📺 The Biggest Loser Documentary— What They Got Right (and What They Got Wrong)

When The Biggest Loser hit TV in the early 2000s, it  was a cultural force that shaped how we think about weight, health, and discipline. Now, the new documentary Fit for TV revisits the show’s legacy.In this episode, I share my reflections on the documentary through the lens of a non-diet dietitian who grew up watching The Biggest Loser.I break down what the documentary actually got right — and where it fell short.We’ll cover:The moments that  exposed the physical and psychological harms of the show.Where the doc reinforced fatphobia instead of unpacking weight stigma.The unsustainable and dangerous practices contestants endured How The Biggest Loser dehumanized people in larger bodies for entertainment and profit.The deeper truth about diet culture, capitalism, and who really benefits when you feel your body isn’t good enough.Resources mentioned: Download your free research guide PDF: https://leahkernrd.kartra.com/page/8Tz185 Reasons Why Your Weight Doesn't Determine Your Health episode: https://leahkernrd.com/%F0%9F%91%89-5-reasons-why-your-weight-doesnt-determine-your-health/More From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

What happens when your anti-diet values collide with the realities of a weight-obsessed medical system?In today’s solo episode, I respond to a deeply vulnerable listener story about being required to undergo weight monitoring during pregnancy as a gestational surrogate—after more than a decade of avoiding the scale as part of her healing from disordered eating.I unpack the emotional toll of being reduced to a number, the grief of not having full autonomy in medical spaces, and how weight stigma is baked into the system.I explore:Why mandatory weigh-ins can be so activating, even years into healingHow to move from “knowing” your worth isn’t tied to weight to feeling it in your bonesReflective tools to challenge internalized beliefs Practical strategies for protecting your peace during weigh-insThis episode is full of validation, support, and reminders that you are not the problem—the system is.Whether you’ve experienced this exact situation or just felt the pain of weight stigma in healthcare, this episode is for you.Resources Mentioned:Bri Campo's episode Nicola Smith of fat positive fertility episodeMore From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode, we're covering 6 lessons I learned on the Appalachian Trail that can be applied to Intuitive Eating.Mentioned in the episode:Social Determinants of Health & Intuitive Eating blog post📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackMore from Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode, we revisit the topic of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic. You’ll hear from 7 guests: therapists, dietitians, former clients, and people who’ve personally used GLP-1sEach person shares how they’re navigating intuitive eating and body acceptance in a culture obsessed with weight loss.This episode features several guests who have already appeared on the show. Here are links to their original episodes:Jamie’s Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/lived-experience-with-ozempic-jamies-story-an/id1616910063?i=1000617648346Aaron’s Episode: https://leahkernrd.com/masculinity-body-image-and-disordered-eating-with-aaron-flores-rd/Kate’s Episode: https://leahkernrd.com/raising-intuitive-eaters-and-protecting-children-from-diet-culture-with-kate-morris/Amanda’s Episode: https://leahkernrd.com/perimenopause-our-ever-changing-bodies-with-amanda-mittman/Hannah’s Episode: https://leahkernrd.com/finding-pleasure-in-movement-with-hannah-husband/Bri Campos's Episode: https://leahkernrd.com/what-were-getting-wrong-about-body-image-with-bri-campos/More From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode, we’re reclaiming nutrition facts from the clutches of food rules and fear. You’ll learn how to approach a nutrition label without spiraling into judgment or rigid thinking—and how these labels can actually support you in honoring your body’s needs.We cover:Why serving sizes are often arbitrary (and not worth stressing over)How to assess if a food will be satisfying and sustaining—beyond just caloriesWhat to do when a meal leaves you hungry an hour later (hint: it’s probably missing fat)Why “high calorie” isn’t a bad thing—and how that narrative has been skewed by diet cultureA reminder that your nutrition needs aren’t confined to a 24-hour windowHow to spot sneaky sources of valuable nutrients like iron, calcium, and B vitamins—yes, even in foods diet culture deems “bad”You’ll also hear a real-life client story that highlights how gentle curiosity—not obsession—can help you build meals that actually work for your body.Nutrition labels aren’t moral scorecards. This episode will help you read them with nuance, compassion, and a whole lot less stress.More From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode, Abbie Attwood, a non-diet, weight-inclusive provider, joins us to talk about:How struggling with anxiety led her into disordered eatingThe role of being a competitive runner Social justice as a motivating force for recoveryWhy self-compassion  won't make you "lazy"The messiness of being humanMentioned in the Episode:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackLeah episode on Abbie's podcast Are The Intuitive Eating Dietitians Alright?More From Abbie:Abbie's WebsiteAbbie's SubstackMore From Leah:📚Download your free Intuitive Eating Starter PackApply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

Tune in to hear 7 of my unpopular takes as an intuitive eating dietitian. Resources mentioned: How IE impacts metabolism and digestionYou're not wrong for desiring intentional weight lossRachel Hartley Episode on Gentle Nutrition More From Leah:Apply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode we’ll explore whether you’re ACTUALLY giving yourself permission, or if you’re still mentally restricting...We’ll cover:mental restriction versus physical restrictionHow this manifests (client stories, personal stories, Alex o)Sneaky ways mental restriction can show upHow to move past mental restrictionMore From Leah:Apply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode, we unpack why seasonal wardrobe changes can trigger body shame, how to navigate the grief that comes with body changes, and tools to meet yourself with more compassion (and way less spiraling).More specifically, we’ll explore:Why the seasonal wardrobe switch can trigger body image distressA 6-step framework to navigate clothing that no longer fitsReal-life client tools for reframing body shamePractical tips to make the process less overwhelmingSupportive mindset shifts and grief validationGentle reframe phrases you can actually believeResources Mentioned:Anti-Diet Media List: https://leahkernrd.kartra.com/page/5Yf33More From Leah:Apply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]

In this episode, I'm joined by eating disorder dietitian, podcaster, speaker, and writer, Julie Dillon.Julie's food and body story The origin of "finding your food voice"The 3 universal qualities of a food voice "Dear Food" letters and the value of personifying foodWhy weight loss won't "cure" PCOS Evidenced-based treatments for PCOS Resources Mentioned:Episode mentioning how research is just one way of knowing with Dr. Lizzy PopeMore From Leah:Apply to The Embodied Method, my 1:1 coaching programJoin my self-paced course, The ReturnSubscribe to Leah's Youtube ChannelSubscribe to my personal SubstackFollow me on Instagram for more intuitive eating content @leahkern.rdVisit my website to learn more about my coaching offeringsSubscribe to my weekly newsletter to get a nugget of intuitive eating inspiration delivered straight from my heart to your inbox each week.Send me a voice message on SpeakpipeEmail me: [email protected]