Dr. Kirsten Grant of Edible Addiction is a researcher and obesity expert who shows us how to successfully communicate about food addiction.
Kirsten has a PhD in Health Psychology; she is a researcher, speaker, consultant, author, obesity expert, founder of Phoenix Six, and host of The Dr. Grant Show. Her passion is helping women (and a few brave men) that struggle with food addiction and food addiction symptoms (overeating, food bingeing, food cravings, anxiety, emotional eating, stress eating, and withdrawal). Ultimately, she helps women to reach their highest potential and lose weight (if that is their goal) by reprogramming the brain. Using her Phoenix Six Method, she helps women by immersing herself in their lives to uncover the blocks and fears that prevent them from making healthier food choices.
Highlights include:
9:48 – KG: “The first thing is never ask why. Never ask why. Why, according to the brain, puts the person on the defense.”
14:41 – KG: “When I ask you how, it helps your brain shift and focus on your current thoughts and beliefs. You transform your way of thinking and comparing your reality. I ask you, And how is that a problem for you?”
15:43 – KG: “The reason why versus how makes a difference is why puts a person on the defensive stance and position. And it also makes the person lean into what they are about to be deprived of. When a physician makes a recommendation for a dietary or behavioral change, we don’t want the person focusing on deprivation. We want the patient to be open to the suggestion and begin to shift their thoughts and belief system over to embracing why this new behavior is and could be a possibility.”
19:21 – KG: “The second question that needs to be asked – and the purpose of this question, I cannot stress enough is to get the person, your patient, to focus on how they think about the end outcome and goal that you both mutually want, but both don’t know how to successfully get there consistently. And the key there is to talk about the behavior that they want in the end.”
20:02 – KG: “How about asking what would happen if we didn’t embrace this behavior? What would happen if we didn’t start eating healthier? What would happen if, and that’s how you phrase it, what would happen if, and then this helps the person see. They’re creating the scenario that they can relate to. The visual is in their mind that they can relate to. Well, if I don’t stop eating cheesecake, if I don’t embrace healthy behaviors like running, I guess I would continue to gain weight. I guess I would continue to feel bad. I guess I wouldn’t be able to play with my grandchildren. And then once again, circle it back around, have that be a problem. If you are unable to play with your grandchildren, how would that be a problem? If you didn’t have the energy to pick up your grandchildren, interact with your children?”
Leading with Health is hosted by Jennifer Michelle. Jennifer has a Master’s in Public Health and Epidemiology and is a former EMT. As President of Michelle Marketing Strategies, Jennifer specializes in healthcare marketing. She is on a mission to create a healthcare system that actually cares about the patients and the providers.