Abbie, it's such a fight. Every day. Thank you for continuing to create content that tempts me to fight harder for myself than my mind is fighting to convince me I need to be smaller.
thanks so much for this episode Abby. I knew some things about the Minnesota starvation study, but I really appreciated more detail. I also had never heard that you have to make up for the deficit from all the years of dieting in calories I believe is what your guest said blew my mind anyway thanks again for all you do
Thank you, Wanda, for sharing what stood out to you. Truly every time I do another deep dive into this study I come out with something I hadn’t seen before. It’s one of those things where we can only absorb so much at a time, because there are SO many effects of under-eating. It absolutely takes time, and a ton of deliberate nourishment, to make up for that longer term deprivation ❤️
Such an illuminating analysis of this study with consideration for the various physiological, emotional, and mental consequences of prolonged dieting, disordered eating, and eating disorders. I especially appreciate the dialogue about body trust, and how it’s a decision our body makes. If we don’t foster a space conducive to establishing trust with our bodies, we run into the same wall each time. “Groundhog Day,” per Chris’s quote. Thank you for the work you do, Abbie. Then, now, and ahead. ❤️
Appreciate you so much, Bree. I've always found this study to be both haunting and incredibly validating -- for anyone who has been made to feel shame for their experiences while dieting or with an ED. We need to be talking about this so much more. Body trust is truly what we all deserve.
Oh my gosh, I spent SO MANY YEARS attempting and feeling guilt over "failing" at a 1200 calorie a day diet. I love how, with every podcast and every article you write, you add a little bit more to my arsenal of thoughts to return to when I start to think about shrinking my body again.
I can really relate to this, Whitney! And I think that arsenal of thoughts is out path through healing. All the little reminders add up to something much bigger. I'm so glad you're here! xox
Amazing information! Thanks so much for this. I'm still processing the shock about what it means for my own chronic dieting and chronic fatigue etc...wow!
Sending you loads of compassion, Lisa. I'm so glad you're part of this community. And I also hear you on the processing of all the information...I swear every time I research this study, I suddenly find 5 new things I hadn't registered before.
Hi, I’m glad to see this post because I’ve been searching for posts on Substack about binge eating. In 2025 after a lifetime of BED and morbid obesity I got yelled at one too many times by my Dr, went on a diet and lost almost half my weight. I’m trying to figure out how it happened. I was diagnosed with diabetes, was not feeling great, but after I lost 15 lbs and started feeling good, I kept going even tho I would normally abandon a diet at that point.
I upped my exercise significantly during this year and reduced my stress by working part time instead of full time.
I’m familiar with the Minnesota experiment bc it’s prominently featured in Wolf’s The Beauty Myth. ( also is there no study done on women? Our bodies are different).
My experience was somewhat different from the Minnesota experiment. Perhaps because I’m a small elderly person (5’) I found that calorie range perfectly comfortable. What I would find is that I would get authentically hungry, eat one thing as opposed to my usual 10 things, and then be satisfied. I concluded that I had not been ‘listening to my body’.
Oddly this whole experience was not challenging. There was never a war going on in my head over curtailing my intake, I just started to enjoy my physical health, I proved appearance, and I love clothes.
Hi Louise! Thank you for sharing your experience so openly. I believe you when you say this felt calm, supportive, and genuinely better in your body at the time—and I’m really glad you found some relief. It makes sense to want to understand why something felt different this time.
What can be tricky in conversations like this is the gap between individual experience and long-term, population-level patterns. Early phases of dietary change can feel regulating or even peaceful, especially alongside reduced stress, changes in work, enjoyable movement, and medical support. That doesn’t mean someone wasn’t “listening to their body” before, or that this state is guaranteed to hold indefinitely. We often see the body adapting in this way at first, but that's why looking at the longer term impact remains so important.
You’re also right to name the limits of the Minnesota study—it was conducted on men, which is a major flaw. Later research across different populations, including women, still shows that over time, restriction often brings food preoccupation and binge behavior back into the picture, even when things felt manageable or positive early on.
I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of your question and your willingness to engage with nuance here. And I'm so glad to have you as part of this space!
Thanks to you and Chris for giving so many more details beyond what's easily available in the Wikipedia page of this experiment. Learning about this was the tipping point in my unlearning journey. The part about the rehabilitation phase was a serious gut punch. I still occasionally get the sensation that I am full but I still feel hungry and had no idea that was related to the decades of dieting. Thank you again. Lots of feelings to process....
Abbie, it's such a fight. Every day. Thank you for continuing to create content that tempts me to fight harder for myself than my mind is fighting to convince me I need to be smaller.
I see you and you’re not alone, wonderful Paige. Keep staying. Keep eating. Keep remembering that you matter.
thanks so much for this episode Abby. I knew some things about the Minnesota starvation study, but I really appreciated more detail. I also had never heard that you have to make up for the deficit from all the years of dieting in calories I believe is what your guest said blew my mind anyway thanks again for all you do
Thank you, Wanda, for sharing what stood out to you. Truly every time I do another deep dive into this study I come out with something I hadn’t seen before. It’s one of those things where we can only absorb so much at a time, because there are SO many effects of under-eating. It absolutely takes time, and a ton of deliberate nourishment, to make up for that longer term deprivation ❤️
Such an illuminating analysis of this study with consideration for the various physiological, emotional, and mental consequences of prolonged dieting, disordered eating, and eating disorders. I especially appreciate the dialogue about body trust, and how it’s a decision our body makes. If we don’t foster a space conducive to establishing trust with our bodies, we run into the same wall each time. “Groundhog Day,” per Chris’s quote. Thank you for the work you do, Abbie. Then, now, and ahead. ❤️
Appreciate you so much, Bree. I've always found this study to be both haunting and incredibly validating -- for anyone who has been made to feel shame for their experiences while dieting or with an ED. We need to be talking about this so much more. Body trust is truly what we all deserve.
Oh my gosh, I spent SO MANY YEARS attempting and feeling guilt over "failing" at a 1200 calorie a day diet. I love how, with every podcast and every article you write, you add a little bit more to my arsenal of thoughts to return to when I start to think about shrinking my body again.
I can really relate to this, Whitney! And I think that arsenal of thoughts is out path through healing. All the little reminders add up to something much bigger. I'm so glad you're here! xox
Thanks Abbie !
Amazing information! Thanks so much for this. I'm still processing the shock about what it means for my own chronic dieting and chronic fatigue etc...wow!
Sending you loads of compassion, Lisa. I'm so glad you're part of this community. And I also hear you on the processing of all the information...I swear every time I research this study, I suddenly find 5 new things I hadn't registered before.
Hi, I’m glad to see this post because I’ve been searching for posts on Substack about binge eating. In 2025 after a lifetime of BED and morbid obesity I got yelled at one too many times by my Dr, went on a diet and lost almost half my weight. I’m trying to figure out how it happened. I was diagnosed with diabetes, was not feeling great, but after I lost 15 lbs and started feeling good, I kept going even tho I would normally abandon a diet at that point.
I upped my exercise significantly during this year and reduced my stress by working part time instead of full time.
I’m familiar with the Minnesota experiment bc it’s prominently featured in Wolf’s The Beauty Myth. ( also is there no study done on women? Our bodies are different).
My experience was somewhat different from the Minnesota experiment. Perhaps because I’m a small elderly person (5’) I found that calorie range perfectly comfortable. What I would find is that I would get authentically hungry, eat one thing as opposed to my usual 10 things, and then be satisfied. I concluded that I had not been ‘listening to my body’.
Oddly this whole experience was not challenging. There was never a war going on in my head over curtailing my intake, I just started to enjoy my physical health, I proved appearance, and I love clothes.
Have you seen this before at all?
Hi Louise! Thank you for sharing your experience so openly. I believe you when you say this felt calm, supportive, and genuinely better in your body at the time—and I’m really glad you found some relief. It makes sense to want to understand why something felt different this time.
What can be tricky in conversations like this is the gap between individual experience and long-term, population-level patterns. Early phases of dietary change can feel regulating or even peaceful, especially alongside reduced stress, changes in work, enjoyable movement, and medical support. That doesn’t mean someone wasn’t “listening to their body” before, or that this state is guaranteed to hold indefinitely. We often see the body adapting in this way at first, but that's why looking at the longer term impact remains so important.
You’re also right to name the limits of the Minnesota study—it was conducted on men, which is a major flaw. Later research across different populations, including women, still shows that over time, restriction often brings food preoccupation and binge behavior back into the picture, even when things felt manageable or positive early on.
I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of your question and your willingness to engage with nuance here. And I'm so glad to have you as part of this space!
Thanks to you and Chris for giving so many more details beyond what's easily available in the Wikipedia page of this experiment. Learning about this was the tipping point in my unlearning journey. The part about the rehabilitation phase was a serious gut punch. I still occasionally get the sensation that I am full but I still feel hungry and had no idea that was related to the decades of dieting. Thank you again. Lots of feelings to process....