#548: Disordered Eating and Body Image in the Fitness Industry – Michelle Carroll

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Introduction

Fitness pursuits can bring various benefits. However, within the modern fitness industry there is a complex interplay of body image ideals, societal pressures, and disordered eating behaviors.

Research continues to illuminate how certain practices and messaging within the industry—such as the overvaluation of leanness or the impact of social media personas—can fuel body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.

For fitness coaches and enthusiasts alike, this raises important questions:

  • What defines success in fitness?
  • How can individuals engage in training and nutrition without falling into harmful traps?
  • And how can professionals align their practices with values that support long-term well-being for themselves and their clients?

In this episode, Michelle Carroll, a PhD researcher in clinical psychology, explores these questions in depth. Drawing on her academic work and personal experiences, she discusses the implications of fitness industry norms, the challenges of online coaching, and practical steps for fostering healthier relationships with food and body image.

Guest Information

Michelle Carroll

Michelle Carroll is currently a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on disordered eating and body image concerns amongst fitness professionals.

Michelle has a Masters degree (MSc.) in Sport & Exercise Nutrition and an undergraduate degree in Radiography.

Before moving into nutrition and fitness, Michelle worked as a radiographer in two of Dublin’s busiest academic teaching hospitals, specialising in Nuclear Medicine and Cardiac Catheterisation screening.

Timestamps

  • [01:15] Defining disordered eating and body image
  • [03:47] Motivations behind this research
  • [05:37] Impact of the fitness industry on body image
  • [08:29] Challenges and misconceptions about body image
  • [14:26] Physical capital and pressures on fitness professionals
  • [18:20] Consequences of harmful fitness industry messaging
  • [35:04] Positive changes and gaps for future research
  • [40:16] Practical advice for professionals and individuals

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