In this critical episode of Inclusive Minds, Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross is joined by esteemed colleague and friend, Paula Edwards Gayfield, a leading expert on eating disorders in BIPOC communities. They dive into a powerful discussion about the unique and often invisible struggles that Black women face when seeking help for eating disorders. From systemic barriers in healthcare to the complex realities of body image that go far beyond weight, this conversation exposes how deeply racism is intertwined with diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• (01:35) Barriers to Access: Why the cost, time, and lack of insurance coverage for eating disorder treatment disproportionately affect Black women.
• (05:10) Systemic Racism in Diagnosis:How the stereotype of who gets an eating disorder leaves Black women unseen, unheard, and misdiagnosed in clinical settings.
• (07:25) Binge Eating Disorder vs. "A Weight Problem": Paula explains how clinicians often mistake Binge Eating Disorder in Black women for a simple need to lose weight, prescribing diets instead of addressing underlying trauma.
• (10:00) The Impact of New Weight-Loss Drugs (GLP-1s): A look at the dangers of prescribing drugs like Ozempic without screening for eating disorders and how they can disrupt the recovery process.
• (13:45) Beyond Size: Body Image, Colorism & Hair: A nuanced discussion on how body image for Black women is complex and includes skin color, hair texture, and facial features—issues rarely addressed in traditional treatment.
• (21:50) "You're Acting White": Tackling the stigma within the Black community that can prevent individuals from seeking or accepting help for an eating disorder.
• (24:30) How to Advocate for Yourself: Paula shares empowering, actionable advice for Black women on how to interview providers and demand culturally competent care.

Connect with Our Guest

Paula Edwards Gayfield, LPC, CEDS-C: Learn more about Paula's work at The Renfrew Center and in her private practice.

Follow the Host

www.CarolynRossMD.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-coker-ross-md-mph-ceds-c-7b81176/

TEDxPleasantGrove talk: https://youtu.be/ljdFLCc3RtM

To buy “Antiblackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies” - bit.ly/3ZuSp1T

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