Join our host Kyla Holley and guest Dr. Evan Nadler

Childhood obesity is one of the most complex and misunderstood health issues of our time—and the conversation often misses the bigger picture.

In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life, I sit down with a bariatric surgeon to explore what really happens when obesity begins in childhood. We move beyond the usual narratives of “eat less and move more” to talk about genetic, environment, stigma, and the long-term impact of growing up in a larger body.

Is there an ethical question that needs to be addressed?

Listen to find out more ...

Kyla Holley is a Therapist and the Director of The Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

www.acfeb.com

Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course

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Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?

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Losing a significant amount of weight can change your body dramatically — but what many people don’t expect is how deeply it can affect their sense of identity.

In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life, we explore the emotional and psychological experience of becoming someone physically different, while internally still feeling like the same person.

For many people who undergo bariatric surgery or take GLP-1 medications, weight loss can bring freedom, health improvements, and new opportunities. But it can also raise unexpected questions like:

Who am I now?

Host Kyla Holley dives into the identity shifts that often accompany major weight loss — from outgrowing old roles and labels to navigating new ways of being in relationships, social situations, and even your own mind.

This is the side of weight loss that isn’t talked about enough: the journey of rebuilding your identity in a new body.

As you listen, you might like to reflect on:

• How much of my identity has been shaped by my weight?

Your identity is not defined by your weight — before or after weight loss.

If this episode resonated with you, you’re not alone.

The Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life Community is a supportive space for people navigating life after bariatric surgery or while taking GLP-1 medications. Inside, we explore the emotional, behavioural, and psychological side of weight loss — the parts that matter long after the scale changes.

Join the community here: https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success/about

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

Because weight loss may change your body — but the real journey is learning how to live fully in your life.

Kyla Holley is a Therapist and the Director of The Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

www.acfeb.com

Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course

Join me here

Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?

Then click here Buy from Amazon

This week I focus on pre-op preparation for bariatric surgery, covering what the surgical team looks for and how the pre-op psychological and behavioral sessions work in my practice.

Topics include working with dietitians, texture modification after surgery, weight-loss expectations, relationships and identity changes, common immediate post-op feelings and cognitive effects of very low calorie intake, plus practical tips for communication and getting the right support.

Kyla Holley is a Therapist and the Director of The Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

www.acfeb.com

Please join our fabulous Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success/about

Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course

Join me here

Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?

Then click here Buy from Amazon

In this episode, Kyla Holley discusses the challenges and strategies for maintaining weight after bariatric surgery or weight loss. She emphasizes the importance of developing skills for weight stability, monitoring, and building trust in oneself to sustain long-term success.

Kyla Holley is a Therapist and the Director of The Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

www.acfeb.com

Please join our fabulous Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success/about

Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course

Join me here

Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?

Then click here Buy from Amazon

Welcome to Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life.

In this episode Kyla discusses how significant weight loss—whether from surgery or GLP‑1 medication—can change friendships, intimate relationships, and how society treats you. She shares real examples, highlights challenges like jealousy, role shifts, and excess skin, and explains why people may react differently.

The episode emphasizes open communication, identifying who truly supports you, and finding peer support through an online community.

Kyla Holley is a Therapist and the Director of The Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

www.acfeb.com

Please join our fabulous Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success/about

Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course

Join me here

Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?

Then click here Buy from Amazon

In this episode of Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life we tackle the common fear of weight regain after bariatric surgery, explaining why small regain is often biologically normal and how past dieting history influences expectations. Kyla Holley outlines the main behavioral causes and possible medical contributors.

Practical prevention and recovery strategies are provided: prioritize protein, return to structured meals, limit liquid calories, watch easy-to-overeat foods, build muscle with strength training, and stay connected to your medical team or support community so you can act early and without shame.

Kyla Holley is a Therapist and the Director of The Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

www.acfeb.com

Please join our fabulous Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success/about

Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course

Join me here

Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?

Then click here Buy from Amazon

In this episode I announce an exciting rebrand: after 103 episodes I'm shifting focus to bariatric/metabolic surgery, and to people using GLP‑1 medications. The show will become "Smaller Stomach, Bigger Life," concentrating on support before, during, and after surgery, while still offering useful content for anyone improving their relationship with food.

Thank you for listening over the past two years — I hope you'll keep following the podcast as we move into this next chapter.

Kyla Holley is the Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

Contact Kyla on [email protected]

Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course

Join me here

Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?

Then click here Buy from Amazon

Join our bariatric community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success

Welcome to Change Your Relationship With Food with Kyla Holley and an episode explaining why protein is essential for protecting muscle, supporting strength and balance as we age, and helping control appetite and blood sugar.

Kyla outlines a practical, non-dieting “protein-first” approach: prioritize protein, fill up on vegetables, and choose carbohydrates intentionally. She also warns against ultra-processed “high-protein” products and explains how protein supports wound healing, hair and immune health.

Practical tips and examples are given (eggs, Greek yogurt, lean meat, tofu, pulses), plus an invitation to join her Skool group for bariatric and GLP-1 patients.

Kyla Holley is the Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

Contact Kyla on [email protected]

Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course

Join me here

Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?

Then click here Buy from Amazon

Join our bariatric community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success

Have you ever noticed how food can feel amazing in the moment… but leave you feeling empty, guilty, or still wanting more?

In this episode, we explore a powerful and often overlooked question:

This is a compassionate, eye-opening conversation about emotional eating, dopamine-driven cravings, and why so many of us use food to cope with stress, exhaustion, and unmet emotional needs. Without shame or restriction, we unpack how food has become a stand-in for comfort—and what true nourishment actually looks like.

The key difference between pleasure and true happiness

Why emotional eating isn’t a lack of willpower

How modern foods hijack your brain’s reward system

The real reasons you eat when you’re not hungry

What it means to nourish your body and your emotions

Simple, gentle shifts to reconnect with food in a healthier way

If you’ve ever eaten to relax, reward yourself, numb out, or feel something—this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and empowered to create a new relationship with food.

🎧 Listen now and begin choosing nourishment over numbing—one compassionate moment at a time.

Kyla Holley is the Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

Contact Kyla on [email protected]

Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course

Join me here

Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?

Then click here Buy from Amazon

Join our bariatric community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success

In this episode, Kyla Holley engages in a heartfelt conversation with Hayley, who shares her personal journey with food and weight loss. They explore the complexities of identity, self-perception, and the emotional challenges that accompany weight loss. Hayley discusses her struggles with food from a young age, the impact of societal expectations on her self-image, and the mental adjustments required after significant weight loss. The conversation delves into the concept of set weight theory and the importance of creating a new identity post-weight loss, emphasizing the ongoing journey of self-acceptance and the need for forgiveness in the process.

Kyla Holley

Director of the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour

Contact Kyla on [email protected]

Join our comprehensive 6 week Change your Relationship with Food online course

Join me here

Need the Change your Relationship with Food Journal and Workbook by Kyla Holley?

Then click here Buy from Amazon

Join our bariatric community here https://www.skool.com/bariatric-success