EP 281: Smart Women, Stupid Food Rules ~ The Body Optimization Trap (A Candid Conversation)

About this episode

A candid conversation about the intersection of professional success and disordered eating among women in corporate environments.

What happens when three podcasters get together to talk about the intersection of professional success and disordered eating? Pure gold. In this candid conversation with fellow podcasters Kelly Lewis and Jenna Kaitbenski we dive deep into why smart, successful women get trapped by stupid food rules and how corporate culture creates the perfect storm for disordered eating. This raw, unfiltered discussion covers: Why 73% of women in corporate environments engage in disordered eating behaviors How the same traits that make you successful at work make you vulnerable to eating disorders The shocking truth: only 6% of people with eating disorders are actually underweight Why exercise addiction is the "acceptable" eating disorder How your body becomes a project to optimize rather than a life to live The mortality reality: eating disorders have the highest death rate of any mental illness Breaking the "not sick enough" myth that keeps women trapped For the smart woman who knows her food rules are stupid but can't stop following them. THE CORPORATE-EATING DISORDER CONNECTION The stereotype: Young, white ballerinas or models The reality: Lawyers, doctors, corporate women…

People in this episode

Host: Lindsey Nichol

Guests: Kelly Lewis, Jenna Kaitbenski

Topics covered

• disordered eating
• corporate culture
• women's health
• eating disorders
• professional success
• body image

Keywords

• eating disorders
• disordered eating behaviors
• corporate women
• perfectionism
• exercise addiction
• body optimization

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• EP 287.5: Am I Eating Enough or Eating Too Much? How to Know in Eating Disorder Recovery · May 29, 2026 · 18 min
• EP 287: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorder Recovery ~ 8 Life-Changing Lessons (On My Son's 8th Birthday) · May 26, 2026 · 18 min