South Africa: Explore Intuitive Eating courses to help clients move beyond diet culture. Support mental health and body image with non-diet approaches.
In a society deeply embedded in diet culture and weight stigma, psychologists and registered counsellors often work with clients struggling with body image dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and low self-esteem. These challenges are frequently reinforced by societal norms that pathologise body diversity and promote restrictive eating behaviours.
This talk introduces Intuitive Eating, a non-diet, evidence-based framework developed by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. It offers an alternative to the traditional weight-centric paradigm by supporting individuals in developing a healthier, more attuned relationship with food and their bodies.
Grounded in psychological and nutritional science, this session helps clinicians understand how to integrate the principles of Intuitive Eating into therapeutic practice. The talk explores how internalised weight bias and diet culture affect mental health, and how professionals from both psychology and dietetics can collaborate to support sustainable wellbeing
Sections
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
Understand the psychological impact of diet culture and weight stigma.
Explore the key principles of Intuitive Eating and their clinical application.
Identify how to support clients in shifting from external rules to internal cues around hunger and satiety.
Recognise the intersection of mental health and nutrition in treating disordered eating patterns.
Develop language and strategies to foster body respect and reduce shame in therapeutic conversations.