Chevese is a voice you may already have heard (or seen on social media) if you’re in the eating disorder space because she’s not afraid to use it. With a background in political science, advocacy is something she knows well. In this episode, Chevese and I talk about the experience of being that voice for those who might not have one and how she leverage social media as a platform for advocacy—and both the good and the challenges that come with it.
Meet our guest, Chevese
Chevese Turner’s dedication to health equity began early in her career as part of a team working to ensure cancer patients had ongoing access to critical treatments. Driven by her own struggles and recovery, she founded the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) in 2008 to address the unmet needs of people with the most prevalent eating disorder and was integral to Binge Eating Disorder (BED) receiving its designation in the Diagnostic & Statistics Manual’s 5th edition increasing the validation and recognition of the disorder.
In more recent years, Chevese has turned her focus to providing direct coaching and group services to individuals who are larger bodied, with or without eating disorders. She is the co-founder of Attune, a program developed to help larger bodied individuals recreate their relationship to body, food and movement. Through Attune, Chevese works also with individuals to navigate the healthcare system which is widely understood to discriminate based on body size, leading to avoidance of health needs.
Additionally, Chevese is an eating disorder and anti-weight discrimination advocate, educator, co-author and speaker, and the founder of the Body Equity Alliance in which she assists organizations and brands to create inclusive campaigns, policies and environments that feature and accommodate higher-weight people. She also co-developed and continues to host Weight Stigma Awareness Week annually with Dr. Wendy Oliver Pyatt. This important awareness week seeks to educate and push for change around the discrimination larger bodied individuals experience in various aspects of their lives, from healthcare to employment to leisure activities. Chevese is passionate about empowering people to reclaim their dignity, respect, and well-being, and to challenge the systemic and cultural barriers that prevent them from accessing quality care, opportunities and joy.
Please include all the links you want included, I.E. social channels and website: Instagram: @cheveseturner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheveseturner/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bodyequityalliance/ Email: [email protected] Body Equity Alliance website: www.bodyequityalliance.com Attune website: www.attuneonline.com
Connect: Body Equity Alliance | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Attune
Meet your host, Jessica
Jessica is the founder and CEO of Jessica Thiefels Consulting, podcast host, published author, and anti-diet and mental health advocate. She’s been featured in top publications including Forbes and Entrepreneur and is on a mission to amplify the reach of mental health and eating disorder recovery organizations. After more than a decade of marketing and healing, including recovering from disordered eating, Jessica is able to help her clients turn their mission into marketing that resonates with audiences and drives growth.
Connect: Echeveria Organic | Instagram | LinkedIn
