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Feisty Women's Performance

Why weight-inclusive care changes everything for athletes with Heather Bergeson, MD, FAAP, CAQ

June 8 · 1 hr 3 min · 30.4 MB
0:00-1:03:27

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What is weight-inclusive care? And why does it matter for *all* active women's health and performance?

Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Dr. Heather Bergeson, a sports‑medicine physician and co‑director of the TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine program, to unpack five decades of fitness and diet fads. Past trends still shape today's wellness culture — and even if you think you're immune, you're not.

Key Takeaways

  • Follow the evolution of fitness and diet fads from the 1970s thin‑ideal to today’s protein-heavy, weighted‑vests—and understand how each era reinforces or challenges body‑image norms.
  • Why BMI is an unreliable health metric and how weight‑inclusive care improves patient outcomes and satisfaction.
  • Actionable steps for clinicians and coaches (e.g., avoid routine weighing, use neutral language, provide size‑accessible equipment)
  • And practical tips for listeners to break free from diet culture: ditch diet apps, focus on intuitive eating, prioritize sleep, and limit comparison‑driven fitness tracking.

Episode Resources:

TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine program: https://www.healthpartners.com/care/tria-orthopedics/services/womens-sports-medicine/

FeistyFest Info: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/feistyfest-feisty-media-1943243299#about-this-trip

Courses and Coaching: https://feisty.learnworlds.com/

Women's Mechanic Camp in Tucson: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/women-s-bike-mechanic-camp-tucson-az-feisty-media-24985624#about-this-trip

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