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Unconsumed

Unconsumed

By: Maddie Kozlowski
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Unconsumed is a four-part podcast series created to challenge the narratives we’ve been fed about diet culture, body image, and wellness. Through candid conversation and storytelling, Unconsumed explores how societal ideals around food and appearance shape our relationships with our bodies—and what it means to reclaim autonomy, confidence, and peace in a world obsessed with control.

Developed as part of my Master’s in Public Health practicum, this project bridges my academic background and my professional passion for eating disorder prevention and health advocacy. Unconsumed invites listeners to pause, reflect, and begin unlearning the messaging that’s kept them feeling less-than. Whether you’re personally navigating disordered eating, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how culture impacts our well-being, this podcast aims to foster understanding, compassion, and evidence-based conversation around topics that matter.

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • My Story - Disordered Eating Disguised as Health

    My Story - Disordered Eating Disguised as Health
    22 Apr 2026

    For years, I believed I was doing everything “right” in the pursuit of health. Behind the discipline, praise, and outward appearance of wellness, I was quietly struggling with disordered eating, body image distress, and a relationship with food and exercise that had become all-consuming.

    In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of how those patterns developed, why they went unrecognized for so long, and the recovery journey that ultimately changed my life. My hope is that this conversation helps listeners feel seen, question harmful norms, and recognize that healing is possible.

    Resources & Where to Find Help -

    MadKozlowski@gmail.com

    Instagram: @UnconsumedCollective

    LinkedIn

    If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone. For support, contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline by calling or texting (800) 931-2237 or visit nationaleatingdisorders.org/helpline.

    If you are in crisis, please text NEDA to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line for immediate help.
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    40 min
  • Unconsumed: Dismantling Diet Culture and Cultivating Inclusive Well-Being

    Unconsumed: Dismantling Diet Culture and Cultivating Inclusive Well-Being
    16 Dec 2025
    In this final episode of Unconsumed’s introductory mini-series, we move into the natural next phase of the conversation - now what? After unpacking diet culture, its harms, and the broader societal and economic costs tied to it, this episode zooms in on weight-centric health messaging - and why our default approach to “health” may be doing more harm than good. We take an honest look at BMI, weight-focused public health initiatives, and the unintended consequences of reducing wellbeing to a number on the scale - all while grounding the conversation in ethics, evidence, and lived experience. From there, we pivot toward a more promising path - Weight-neutral approaches to health promotion, including frameworks like Health at Every Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating. Not just because they’re kinder, but because the evidence shows they work. Drawing from decades of research, this episode highlights how shifting the focus away from weight and toward behaviors, physiology, and psychological wellbeing leads to more sustainable outcomes, improved health markers, and greater trust in care. If you’ve ever felt discouraged, blamed, or boxed out by wellness culture - or if you’re simply curious about what a more inclusive, evidence-based approach to health could look like - this conversation is for you! And while this may mark the end of the mini-series, it’s just the beginning of what’s to come on Unconsumed! Resources & Where to Find Help - MadKozlowski@gmail.com Instagram: @MadzKoz LinkedIn If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone. For support, contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline by calling or texting https://www.apha.org/-/media/files/pdf/membergroups/ethics/code_of_ethics.ashx Bacon, L., & Aphramor, L. (2011). Weight science: Evaluating the evidence for a paradigm shift. Nutrition Journal, 10, Article 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-10-69 Blumenthal, D., Gunja, M. Z., Shah, A., Gumas, E., Williams II, R., & The Commonwealth Fund. (2024). Mirror, mirror 2024: A portrait of the failing U.S. health system—Comparing performance in 10 nations. The Commonwealth Fund. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2024.2368916 Deloitte Access Economics. (2020). Social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States of America. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://hsph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Social-Economic-Cost-of-Eating-Disorders-in-US.pdf Howard, T. L. M., Williams, M. O., Woodward, D., & Fox, J. R. E. (2023). The relationship between shame, perfectionism and anorexia nervosa: A grounded theory study. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 96(1), 40–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12425 Hunger, J. M., Smith, J. P., & Tomiyama, A. J. (2020). An evidence-based rationale for adopting weight-inclusive health policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 14(1), 73–107. https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12062 Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions about eating disorders. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty-areas/eating-disorders/faq Kinnear, A., Siegel, J. A., Masson, P. C., & Bodell, L. P. (2023). Functions of disordered eating behaviors: A qualitative analysis of lived experience and clinician perspectives. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(1), Article 141. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00854-4 Maciejewski, Z. (2017). The Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act and its implications for health insurance premiums. Indiana Law Journal, 95, 28–56. Mann, T., Tomiyama, A. J., Westling, E., Lew, A. M., Samuels, B., & Chatman, J. (2007). Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments: Diets are not the answer. American Psychologist, 62(3), 220–233. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.62.3.220 Mendez, A. I., Miramonti, A. A., Gillen, Z. M., McKay, B. D., Leutzinger, T. J., & Cramer, J. T. (2018). Stature, body mass, and BMI in high school American football players: Appropriate determinants of obesity prevalence? Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(11), 3119–3126. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/what-is-the-difference-between-disordered-eating-and-eating-disorders/ Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Larson, N. I., Eisenberg, M. E., & Loth, K. (2011). Dieting and disordered eating behaviors from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from a 10-year longitudinal study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111(7), 1004–1011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2011.04.012 Polivy, J. (2014). Dieting. In B. H. Ross (Ed.), The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 61, pp. 209–239). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-397045-9.00006-1 Tomiyama, A. J., Carr, D., Granberg, E. M., Major, B., Robinson, E., Sutin, A. R., & Brewis, A. (2018). How and why weight stigma drives the obesity “epidemic” and harms health. BMC Medicine, 16, Article 123. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1116-5 ...
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    45 min
  • The Price of Being Consumed: The True Costs of Eating Disorders

    The Price of Being Consumed: The True Costs of Eating Disorders
    2 Dec 2025

    In this episode, we unpack the true costs of eating disorders—both the measurable financial burden and the hidden emotional and cognitive toll that often go unnoticed. Building on our earlier discussions, we look at why these conditions remain overlooked, how diet and wellness culture mask their warning signs, and what research reveals about the profound impact on individuals, families, and communities.

    I also share personal reflections from my own recovery to illustrate how these struggles quietly shape daily life and why understanding the “invisible” costs is essential for meaningful change. Whether you're navigating these experiences or simply seeking clarity, this conversation sheds light on why eating disorders demand far more attention—and compassion—than they currently receive, and how greater advocacy can move us toward the understanding, resources, and support that have long been missing.

    Resources & Where to Find Help -

    MadKozlowski@gmail.com

    Instagram: @MadzKoz

    LinkedIn

    If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone. For support, contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline by calling or texting (800) 931-2237, or visit nationaleatingdisorders.org/helpline.

    If you are in crisis, please text NEDA to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line for immediate help.

    References -

    Gau, J. M., Onipede, A., Rhode, P., Shaw, H., & Stice, E. (2021). Effectiveness of the Body Project eating disorder prevention program for different racial and ethnic groups and an evaluation of the potential benefits of ethnic matching. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89(12), 1007–1019.

    Koreshe, E., Hay, P., Touyz, S., & Maguire, S. (2023). Prevention and early intervention in eating disorders: Findings from a narrative review. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11, 145. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00758-1

    National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Mental health and substance use disorder prevention programs and evidence-based practices (Appendix C). In Effective care for high-need patients. National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NAP21860/

    Pehlivan, M. J., Aouad, P., Touyz, S., Hay, P., Bryant, E., McLean, S. A., Meyer, C., & Mitchison, D. (2022). Models of care for eating disorders: Findings from a rapid review. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10, 141. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00671-1

    Regier, D. A., et al. (2013). The DSM-5: Classification and criteria changes. World Psychiatry, 12(2), 92–98. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3683251/

    Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED). (2020, June 24). Report: Economic costs of eating disorders. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/eating-disorders-striped/research-reports/economic-costs-eating-disorders/

    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). FY 2022 President’s budget: Budget in brief. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/samhsa-fy-2022-bib.pdf
    Show more Show less
    22 min
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