Health Not Weight

If you're reading this, you're just like me and want to make sure I have the knowledge, skills and legitimacy to work with you. 

I'll start with my education: 

• Bachelors of Science in Human Nutrition (BSc)
  St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, Canada (2002-2005)
  University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA (2001-2002)
  
  
• Masters of Science in Human Kinetics (MSc)
  University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada (2012-2015)
  
  

My credentials:

• Registered Dietitian, College of Dietitians of Ontario (since 2007)
• Certified Bariatric Educator (CBE)
• Licensed Craving Change™ instructor

My training/professional development topics: 

• Weight inclusive approaches
• Intuitive eating
• Weight bias, stigma and discrimination
• Health at Every Size™
• Appetite regulation
• Weight physiology
• Neurohormones
• Gut microbiota
• Medical nutrition therapy (MNT)
• Nutrition-focused physical assessment (NFPA)
• Body composition/analysis
• Malnutrition
• Micronutrient deficiencies and supplementation
• Bariatric/metabolic surgery
• Chronic disease (diabetes, obesity, CVD)
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Eating disorders/disordered eating
• Sport nutrition/performance
• Behaviour change theories (Motivational interviewing; Cognitive behaviour therapy; Acceptance and commitment therapy)
• Adult learning and education
• Advocacy and policy
• Public health
• Social justice
• Food and health inequality
• Mental health 
• Research (systematic reviews, GRADE, quantitative, qualitative, quality improvement, program evaluation, etc)

My accomplishments: 

• Lead author, Medical Nutrition Therapy chapter of the 2020 Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Steering committee member and advisory member for the International Obesity CPG adaptation committee
• Canadian representative, Global Guidance Committee of the Obesity Policy Engagement Network 
• Author, Physiology of Body Weight, Weight Gain and Adipose Tissue Background, PEN (Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition)
• Co-author, Weight Stigma backgrounder, PEN (Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition)
• Faculty member, Canadian Advanced Learning in Bariatric Care (CALIBRE) course and Advanced Obesity Management Program (AOMP)
• Collaboration and building connections between weight-inclusive and weight-centric paradigms
• Expert member and author of  the Bariatric Surgery Evidence Analysis Library, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
• Created course called "Managing Weight Expectations" with >400 clients/patients completed since 2018. 
• Trained and mentored students, dietitians and physicians in nutrition, weight physiology and weight-inclusive approaches.
   

My passion: 

• Ending diet-culture (Recent radio interview - have a listen)
• Changing the narrative of weight 
• Ending weight stigma and bias
• Educating health care professionals and clients about weight science
• Advocacy in weight-related policies (changing how weight is viewed and understood)
• Strengthening relationships with food, movement and bodies