Body Image with Sydney Greene, MS, RDN
Ever feel like nothing in your closet feels good, no matter how many outfits you try on?
Or maybe you’ve found yourself spiraling about what people will think when they see you at a reunion, a wedding, or even just in the office. These moments aren’t just about clothes or appearances. They’re windows into the deeper and often complicated world of body image.
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If this post resonates with you or makes you feel something, share it with a friend! My hope is that we can keep this important conversation going long after the post is over.
In this episode of Understanding Disordered Eating, I’m joined by my good friend and colleague, Sydney Green, MS, RD, to unpack the truth about body image: what it really means, how it shows up in daily life, and why it’s so intertwined with our relationship to food.
Sydney Greene is a Registered Dietitian specializing in behavioral health nutrition. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. Before establishing her private practice, Sydney developed the nutrition program at an addiction treatment center in Brooklyn, NY. Her private practice now focuses on nutrition counseling for addiction recovery, eating disorders, and body image. When she is not counseling clients, Sydney speaks to companies, therapy groups, and treatment centers about the role of food in recovery. Additionally, Sydney serves as the Addictions Resource Professional for the Behavioral Health Nutrition practice group under the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
In this episode, I’m talking about:
The complexity of body image and how it impacts daily life, from getting dressed to social interactions.
Common misconceptions, including the idea that “body image is the last to go” in recovery, and why that oversimplifies a deeper issue.
How body image concerns often influence eating behaviors and choices, sometimes leading to restriction, overthinking, or food preoccupation.
The role of external pressures, social expectations, professional environments, and comparisons that shape how we perceive ourselves.
The emotional weight of anticipation and judgment, such as preparing for reunions, events, or simply facing the mirror.
Why body image work is less about quick fixes and more about curiosity, exploration, and relational support.
The importance of safe relationships and group settings where people can share openly without dismissal or shallow reassurance.
Practical tools for hard days, like choosing comfort over appearance, distraction strategies, journaling prompts, or reframing how we think about “taking up space”.
Encouragement that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, tools, and approaches should be personalized to what actually resonates with each person.
This isn’t about quick fixes or toxic positivity. It’s about learning to approach body image with curiosity, compassion, and support. Whether you’ve struggled for years or are just starting to notice these patterns, this conversation will leave you feeling less alone and more equipped to take the next step.
Tune in to the full episode now to hear the whole conversation and explore practical ways to navigate body image with more ease and understanding.
Tweetable Quotes
“If you're on outfit seven, nothing's feeling good… can we just go with comfort? Can we just go with, okay?” - Rachelle Heinemann
“Body image is the last to go… which again, I don't even know what that means, although it's true, but it doesn't really mean much without unpacking it.” - Rachelle Heinemann
“The successful woman is looking super chic, and she's really thin, and if I don't look like that, then I'm not successful. I'm not driven. I'm not motivated.” - Sydney Greene
“A huge salad… our stomach is not meant to digest that. We're not rabbits. It just sits there. We get bloated. It doesn't feel good.” - Sydney Greene
“Body image is not a symptom. It's like how we feel about ourselves… there’s so much more richness to how we feel about our body.” - Sydney Greene
“There's an actual word for some of this in research, it's called fat talk… women get together and talk about, pick apart their body, kind of like that Mean Girls scene.” - Sydney Greene
“When somebody is struggling with body image, maybe the point is not to immediately erase it. Maybe we have to see it and acknowledge it and say, you're not alone.” - Rachelle Heinemann
Resources
Connect with Sydney here: https://www.sydneygreenehealth.com/
Find her on Instagram!: @greenehealth
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Related Episodes
Episode 169. Weight, Worth, and Why We’re Still Talking About BMI with Dr. Erin Knopf
Episode 156. Women's Hormones, Body Image, and Facts with Dr. Esther Rollhaus
Episode 151. Body Image is the Last to Go
Episode 138. Substance Use and Eating Disorders with Sydney Greene
Episode 10. Social Media, Societal Pressure, Disordered Eating, and Poor Body Image
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Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.
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