Center for Body Trust

?? Let’s talk about the b.s. that is BMI for a moment… In recent years, more and more has been written about the problematic origins of BMI.? But how did we arrive at the BMI in the first place? In the 19th century, the BMI was developed by a Belgium statistician to look at the distribution of weight across a population of ?? white ?? people.? It was never created for, nor intended to be used on individuals to determine health status. But since the 1970s, doctors, insurance companies, and government statisticians have relied on it to assess fatness and fitness.? Then in the 1990s, BMI cut-offs were lowered, which created an opportunity for pharmaceutical and weight loss companies to earn more money overnight. Big pharma has been invested in BMI and dominant culture’s obsession with fatness for a long time because at the end of the day it's all about money to them.? Want to learn more about the problematic history of BMI? Pick up a copy of our book “Reclaiming Body Trust” to read more. #CenterForBodyTrust #HAES #BMI #BigPharma #HealthEquity

Today we're sharing Angela Braxton Johnson’s Body Trust journey. Angela participated in our Certification training and shared her story with us for our book:? "I was born into a country where White Supremacy set the tone for just about everything. A construct that denied my cute little black, fat, body, equality and acceptance right from jump street.? Then add to that, a long string of traumatic occurrences that aided in the breaking of my body trust.? Though I don’t have a mental memory of some of those things, like being born into a home where domestic violence happened, I know that my body remembers.? Huge fractures in my Body Trust were caused by me being separated from my family when Mama moved us to the Pacific Northwest for a fresh start. Being transplanted from the very diverse DMV area (DC/Maryland/Virginia) to the very white state of Oregon was a culture shock for both Mama and I. Being teased on playgrounds just for being fat, which is part of being me.? Though my first few years of learning and practicing Body Trust wasn’t easy, it was a necessary and restorative part of my journey, which continues today. I learned so many life-changing things. How diet culture was rooted in White Supremacy. About intersectionality. How to tap into my body’s feelings and desires. How to be more compassionate with myself. How to aim for a C rather than an A in how I live. About the ridiculousness of weight stigma. How my issues were not my fault. I also learned how to cuss a little bit. How to live for Angela (not everyone else) and let those delicious chips fall where they may.” ??Read the rest of Angela Braxton Johnson's Body Trust story here: https://lnkd.in/gV-YV2eC #BodyLiberation #HealingJourney #OvercomingTrauma #MyStory #BlackWomen

Do you miss our Body Trust Tuesday posts on social? ?? Our Body Trust Tuesday posts now live in our newsletter!? Get your weekly dose of inspiration and insight by signing up for our newsletter on our website. ? ?? Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gdUQFR5n #CenterForBodyTrust #Newsletter #PersonalGrowthAndDevelopment #CommunitySupport #OnlineLearning

?? Reclaiming movement is not as simple as making a promise to yourself to get back to “x” or start doing “y”. Movement influences our conception of what it has been and should be. Your relationship with movement has been impacted by class, access, and ability – things that often don’t surface in the mainstream toxic fitness mindset rhetoric. It can be hard to find a way back into movement that hasn't been touched by the fitness industry. Here are a few pieces of advice: ?? Root movement in loving-kindness, with gentle expectations, and weight neutrality. ?? Do things for and with your body, rather than to and on your body. ?? Focus on how various activities support your body and/or enhance your health and well-being. Remember, despite popular belief, fitness doesn't have "a look." People of all weights, shapes, and sizes run marathons, practice yoga, dance, climb mountains, box, swim, and do CrossFit. You cannot look at someone and assess their health status or fitness level. ?? Read our book, "Reclaiming Body Trust" to read the full chapter on "Reclaiming Movement." #CenterForBodyTrust #IntentionalMovement #ToxicFitnessCulture #WeightInclusive #BodyLiberation

In honor of Women's History Month, we want to share with you a few women who have been foundational in pushing weight inclusive care forward. ?? Chevese Turner??? is an activist, advocate, speaker, and policy influencer who has created social change around eating disorders, weight stigma and discrimination, and intersectional social justice. She is the founder of Body Equity Alliance, a consulting and advocacy organization that works with brands, policymakers, and educators to promote health equity and weight inclusivity for larger bodied individuals.. ?? Ragen Chastain, MEd, BCPA???helped define weight-inclusive care by describing it as a way to provide the same interventions to people of all sizes, and consider symptoms and diagnoses first, rather than bodies. She also advocates for healthcare practices and research that considers bodies of all sizes from the ground up.? ? Tigress Osborn??is the Executive Director of NAAFA (the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance). She hosts meetings with non-profit leaders in other movements, and has a dream of increasing resources for NAAFA and the Fat acceptance movement. She works hard to build infrastructure at NAAFA that deepens their impact and that helps Fat folks do more than just survive.?? Dana and I are eternally grateful for the hard work these women have contributed to building the weight-inclusive, Body Trust informed, world we envision. ?? VIDEO DESCRIPTION: A graphic with a golden background and a darker gold circle in the center. Abstract blue and green flowers frame the circle. In the circle is the text, "Women who are pushing weight-inclusive care forward." #CenterForBodyTrust #WomensHistoryMonth #WeightInclusive #HAES #HealthEquity

?? Your relationship with food is essential to life. ?? Here are some recommendations to help you move forward and recommit to being an eater: 1) Reclaim your right to eat and enjoy food 2) Eat regularly throughout the day 3) Cultivate the ability to observe what happens without judgement? 4) Look and listen for attitude changes 5) Notice how long your meals last – how much time passes before you are hungry again? 6) Write yourself some permission slips ?? As you practice, we promise it will get easier and you won't have to think about your habits so much. That's why we practice. With time, not doing it becomes harder than doing it. Lean on those foundations of Body Trust.? Read our book “Reclaiming Body Trust” to learn more about intuitive eating.? ? #CenterForBodyTrust #ReadMyBook #IntuitiveEating #HealingJourney #DietCultureDropOut

Our 2025 Certification training begins March 13th and we have an incredible lineup of speakers: ?? In May, Imani Barbarin joins us to talk about disability justice and how it intersects with Fat liberation. ?? In June, Shilo George will be speaking about her Body Sovereignty project and share the ways she navigates healthcare. ?? In August, Sand Chang will present on Body Trust & Trans Experience and help participants unpack their gender training to better understand the ways diet culture and disordered eating show up in trans communities. In addition to these live speakers, Certification includes recorded teachings from Desiree Adaway, Nicole Lee, Ericka Hines, Lisa DuBreiul, Marcella Raimondo, Erin Harrop and more. Our 2025 cohort is almost full! If you feel called to join us, we encourage you to register today as registration closes Monday March 3rd.? VIDEO DESCRIPTION: A graphic with a beige background and a blue circle in the center. In the center of the circle is the text, "Who could you learn from in our 2025 Certification training?"? #CenterForBodyTrust #CommunitySupport #ContinuedEducation #WeightInclusive #HAES

There is community here. You will not be alone, though you may still feel lonely sometimes. ?? ?? Social media is a place where you can find images of people who look like you living their big delicious lives unapologetically. You can curate your social media accounts so the only images you encounter support your healing and the expansion of the edges of your comfort zone regarding inclusion. Communities that are built around healing, justice, and liberation are places we need. Many of us are still learning who to be together, and how to create a brave space while we wrestle with the presence of dominant culture. We are all going to get it wrong sometimes, which is why Ericka Hines, founder of Black Womxn Thriving, says, "Be humble and ready to fumble."? ?? We know you are likely surrounded by people who haven't been ready to listen to you or support your healing process. You may be wondering how you begin to share these ideas, or this newly developed aspect of your being, with them. Learning about Body Trust is like learning to speak a new language, and sometimes when you are fairly new in your own process and understanding of it, it can be especially hard to talk about.? But know this: you are not the only one. We are in this together!? Become a bigger part of our Body Trust community by joining Certification Training this March! Registration closes 3/3 so head over to our website to sign up soon. #CenterForBodyTrust #CommunitySupport #FatActivism #PersonalGrowthandDevelopment #Inclusive

This Eating Disorder Awareness Week, we’d like to bring attention to the almost 30 million Americans who will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders can develop for a multitude of reasons from healthism to trauma to food insecurity and much more. Dominant culture is designed to ensure Fat bodies are exploited by the diet, health, wellness, and fitness industries. The academic, research, and health care communities collude with all of it. So it's no wonder we are where are today: 70 million people suffering with eating disorders worldwide, a $90 billion weight loss industry with no long term data to support it, toxic "wellness" culture, and TV shows like "The Biggest Loser."?? But the truth will always be that bodies exist on a spectrum and come in a variety of presentations, abilities, shapes, and sizes. If you have overcome an eating disorder or are currently navigating one, know that your coping is rooted in wisdom. Sharing your process in a community of people who support your healing and recovery can make all the difference in the world. Hilary, Sirius, and I are here for you. ?? VIDEO DESCRIPTION: A light teal background with abstract pink flowers framing a white circle. Inside the circle is the text, "Almost 30 million Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime." #CenterForBodyTrust #EatingDisorderAwarenessWeek #FoodInsecurity #BodyLiberation #DietCultureDropOut

Professionals, Dana, Sirius, and I are making it even easier to join Certification! We’re offering discounted rates to groups so your colleagues or friends can join you for Certification at a reduced rate. ?? 3-5 people: $300 discount per person ?? 6-9 people: $500 discount per person? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 10-49 people: $1,000 discount per person ? 50+ people: $1,500 discount per person Join a community of like-minded Body Trust Specialists advocating for compassionate, weight-inclusive models of care. You and your friends will learn in a group setting with a cohort of 100-150 individuals. Your energy and support are how we’ll all make it through the next four challenging years. ?? Pass along this info and sign up for Certification on our website! #CenterForBodyTrust #CommunitySupport #GroupLearning #SocialWorkers #Dietitian