July 28, 2025

Fat Liberation & Neurodivergent Rights: Challenging Stigma in ADHD, Autism, & Beyond

12 minutes

What happens when someone is both neurodivergent and fat in a world that punishes difference? In this solo episode, Dr. Marianne unpacks how fatphobia and ableism intersect to create barriers in medical care, mental health treatment, and everyday life for people with ADHD, autism, PDA, and other forms of neurodivergence.

She explores why fat liberation and neurodivergent rights must go hand-in-hand, and how body justice is essential—not optional—in eating disorder recovery, therapy, and community care. From sensory needs and executive functioning to the pressure to mask and shrink, this episode offers a powerful call to unlearn bias and build liberatory spaces where all bodies and minds are treated with dignity.

Whether you're a fat neurodivergent person, a therapist, or someone committed to anti-oppressive care, this conversation is for you.

CONTENT CAUTIONS: In this episode, Dr. Marianne discusses anti-fat bias, ableism, disordered eating, masking, and systemic oppression in medical and mental health settings. Please care for yourself as needed.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:

Why fat liberation is essential to neurodivergent-affirming care

How anti-fat bias and ableism reinforce each other in ADHD and autism communities

What executive dysfunction, sensory needs, and masking have to do with food and body shame

Why fat neurodivergent people are underdiagnosed and often dismissed by providers

What therapists and support people can do to stop reinforcing stigma

How to practice body autonomy and community care outside of diet culture and compliance

🎧 LISTEN TO OTHER EPISODES ON FAT LIBERATION & NEURODIVERSITY

How Masking Neurodivergence Can Fuel Eating Disorders on Apple & Spotify.

Breaking Free: Body Liberation After Binge Eating Disorder with Sophia Apostol @fatjoy.life on Apple & Spotify.

Minding the Gap: The Intersection Between AuDHD & Eating Disorders With Stacie Fanelli, LCSW @edadhd_therapist on Apple & Spotify

Body Acceptance, Size Diversity, & Body Liberation on Apple & Spotify.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Dr. Marianne provides neurodivergent-affirming therapy in California, Texas, and Washington, D.C. and offers consultations for professionals seeking liberation-focused support models.

Learn more at: https://www.drmariannemiller.com

RATE & REVIEW

If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate, review, and share it with your community. Your voice helps us amplify liberatory conversations and reach more people doing the work of unlearning body shame.

INTERESTED IN HANGING OUT MORE IN DR. MARIANNE-LAND?

Follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller

Check out my virtual, self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating course

Look into my self-paced, virtual, anti-diet, subscription-based curriculum. It is called Dr. Marianne-Land's Binge Eating Recovery Membership.

Check out my blog.

Want more information? Email me at [email protected]

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By mariannemillerphd

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