Stories That Understand: Media About Body Image, Food & Healing

Have you ever listened to a song and thought, “This is exactly how I feel!” Or watched a character on tv and connected with them in a way you couldn’t really explain. Or maybe you’ve read a book and couldn’t put it down due to the similarities you notice in your own life. While no movie, book, or podcast can replace support, certain stories can help us feel less alone. Throughout my own work on my mental health, body image struggles, and disordered eating, I found comfort in knowing there are other stories out there that resemble my own.

Songs that just get it

My Body’s My Buddy by Tessa Violet & Brye

The most beautiful song about the journeys we go on with our bodies. Learning to accept our bodies for what they are and how much they provide us with.

Victoria’s Secret by Jax

A powerful song that criticizes how the fashion and beauty industry profits from women’s insecurities.

Orange Juice by Melanie Martinez

This song addresses eating disorders, specifically bulimia, and the struggles of body dysmorphia. It is an anthem for self-acceptance and pushing back against the idea that a person’s body needs to change to be valued.

Movies & Shows That May Help You Feel Seen

Little Miss Sunshine

                  While not exclusively about body image, this comedy film addresses the societal pressures around appearance and success. The messaging concludes that self-worth is not tied to physical standards.

Real Women Have Curves

                  Although the title is problematic (i.e. we know all bodies look different, and what the heck is a real woman?), the messaging of the movie is all about body acceptance and fighting back against predisposed beauty standards.

Shrill

                  A tv show about a woman who is determined to change her life without changing her body. The show moves through struggles with fatphobia and how confidence and comfortability in one’s skin can increase without shrinking in size.

Embrace: The Documentary

                  Body image activist, Taryn Brumfitt, explores the global issue of body loathing. While travelling the world, she interviews a range of women about their attitudes on their bodies.

Books that are Tapped in

8 Keys to Recovery From an Eating Disorder by Carolyn Costin & Gwen Schubert Grabb

                  One of my favourite pieces of work by two mental health professionals who have personal experience recovering from an Eating Disorder. I often draw from this workbook in work with my clients in session.

Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia De Rossi

                  One of the first books I ever read when I was in University that depicted an honest portrayal of overcoming anorexia and bulimia. The novel also highlights the societal pressures to have the “perfect body” and its impact on mental health.

The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

                  This empowering manifesto examines how systemic oppression fuels body shame and offers a framework for radical self-love.

Podcasts that Inspire

Peace Meal by The Emily Program

                  Peace Meal covers topics ranging from eating disorders, body image issues, and how society may contribute to distorted thinking. Interviews with treatment staff, industry leaders, and those in recovery to cover a wide range of lenses and topics.

Behind the Binge by Marissa Kai Miluk

                  This podcast is a great resource to learning how to cultivate a healthful relationship with food and your body, free from binge eating. Although the podcast is over (boo!), there are over 60 episodes to enjoy.

Love your Bod Pod by Cara Carin Cifelli

                  Focusing on intuitive eating, female empowerment, body acceptance and dismantling diet culture, this podcast contains in-depth interviews with guest experts in mental health, eating disorder recovery, and nutrition.

Empowering People to Follow

Christy Harrison

Instagram: @christyharrison. Christy emphasizes the anti-diet and wellness traps we often fall victim to and provides insights into myths about food, diet, and intuitive eating

Alexis Conason

Instagram: @theantidietplan. As said in her Instagram handle, Alexis works to heal your relationship with food and body through an anti-diet lens.

Sonya Renee Taylor

Instagram: @sonyareneetaylor. The author of ‘The Body is Not an Apology,’ is an incredible example of radical self-love and how to show up for your self.

You are not failing because food or body image feels hard.

Many people carry these struggles silently. Healing rarely happens, if ever, through shame. It happens through compassion, support, safety and connection. Finding resources and a community is an incredible first step in any journey.