Body Image E2: Deconstructing Shame

The Lisa Show

In the online discussion about body image, there's often a disconnect when it comes to the terms that are used. Some people talk about "body shame" with an understanding that it is a negative and toxic emotion that can lead to serious trauma and mental illness. Others will talk about "body shame" to refer to what they see as a healthy motivation to eat healthier foods and exercise more regularly. How can people who are using the same phrase to refer to almost opposite ideas have an effective conversation about how we can best take care of ourselves? In this installment in The Lisa Show's Body Image series, Lisa tries to establish a foundation of common understanding around shame, positivity, guilt, and love, so that we can be in the best frame of mind to start improving our relationships with our bodies. She talks to the Council of Moms (Tamalin Christen and Julie Taylor), head of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating Mike David, and reevaluates her own history with body shame in the process.