Sports & Exercise - an Eating Disorder Dietitian's Perspective with Zoe Davis

In this week’s podcast, Han is joined by Zoe Davis. Zoe is a dietitian with 12 years of experience and has been working in the field of mental health and eating disorders for 7 years. Zoe is finishing her Masters in Sports and Exercise nutrition which she hopes to bring into her practice, to support athletes who are experiencing disordered eating.

This week, we discuss:

• The work that Zoe does as a Dietitian, and how her career has progressed to focus on mental health & eating disorders.
• The impact of excessive exercise and reduced energy intake, which can lead to low energy availability (LEA) and reduced energy deficiency syndrome (RED-S).
• How to know what an "adequate amount" of energy intake is, and how variable this is between individuals.
• The normalisation of reduced energy intake and low body weight in sports, and how we shift this normalisation that can lead to bingeing.
• The role of personal trainers and gyms in supporting athletes and clients with their training and nutrition to reduce disordered eating.
• When it can be sensible to stop exercise and how to reintroduce this back into your life during recovery.
• Tips from Zoe to self-soothe rather than using exercise.

To find out more about Zoe, follow her on Instagram @zoedavisdietitianyoga or email Zoe@zoedavis.ie.

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.