90. Is it An Eating Disorder or Disordered Eating? with Monica Freudenreich

disordered eating eating disorders Jun 03, 2026

In this episode of The Body Grievers® Club, Bri joins therapist/social worker Monica Freudenreich to discuss eating disorders versus disordered eating, emphasizing that most people with eating disorders often go unrecognized or dismissed by providers who lack specialized training and may be influenced by diet culture trends. They describe how diagnostic labels can shift, how insurance and treatment systems affect care, and why focusing on functioning and quality of life matters more than whether someone meets a specific DSM threshold. They critique applying abstinence-based addiction models to food, highlight how “health” is often reduced to weight, and explore the roles of rest, connection, joy, and reducing shame in healing. They also preview an upcoming master class for providers and individuals on assessment, blind spots, body image, and practical strategies.

Join our upcoming masterclass: Eating Disorder vs. Disordered Eating

TIMESTAMPS:

04:18 Recognizing Disordered Eating

06:58 Monica’s ED Work Journey

09:55 Bri’s ED Center Reality

12:41 Provider Dissonance Dieting

18:57 Labels Don’t Matter

25:42 Healing Inside Diet Culture

35:36 Rest as Radical Health

37:25 Rethinking Addiction and Connection

38:54 Comfort Coping Without Shame

47:55 Rejecting Diet Culture