A teensy rant about ED recovery “experts”

You’ve seen them everywhere. Their method will help you recover from your ED, become an intuitive eater, lose weight with normal eating, mimic the habits of slim people, yadda yadda.

They have qualifications out the wazoo: degrees, scientists, papers published, highly respected in their fields, therapists, some of them have even lost a little weight themselves. They tell you about ALL the people they have helped, there are testimonials. Many, many have books that they are sure you would benefit from if you bought it.

What’s missing? Data. No one, not even the purported scientists, is demonstrating permanent change in their clients. Scientific reports, when they exist, are mostly about proving small elements of their theory works. Where the heck is the proof that so-and-so expert has coached/therapized/taught a certain number of people to eat normally, lose weight, and keep it off? Where are the studies of people at 5 years out, 10 years out? How are they doing?

We “know” that diets have about a 5% permanent success rate. What is the success rate of the non-diet movement? Better than dieting? Worse?

I’m tired of seeing statistics about the problem. I’m tired of reading testimonials like “I’m still struggling, but…” or “I haven’t lost weight yet, but…”

My statistics?

• Lost almost 50 pounds so far
• Exercise willingly 3 or more times a week
• Can skip meals without binging
• Can leave food on my plate
• Stopped yelling at myself and seeing failure everywhere

Don’t get me wrong - I love experts and the insights they bring. I don’t deny that they have learned, and want to teach others.

But the expert who shows me with data that 10% of their clients have lost over 50 pounds and controlled their eating disorder for 10 years is a million times more valuable than any person who claims to have “helped thousands” with no more proof than a testimonial on a web page.

If you know an expert with proof, please let me know. I wanna believe, but I’m sick of weasel words.