Feisty Women's Performance

Why weight-inclusive care changes everything for athletes with Heather Bergeson, MD, FAAP, CAQ


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What is weight-inclusive care? And why does it matter for *all* active women's health and performance?

Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Dr. Heather Bergeson, a sports‑medicine physician and co‑director of the TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine program, to unpack five decades of fitness and diet fads. Past trends still shape today's wellness culture — and even if you think you're immune, you're not.

Key Takeaways

  • Follow the evolution of fitness and diet fads from the 1970s thin‑ideal to today’s protein-heavy, weighted‑vests—and understand how each era reinforces or challenges body‑image norms.
  • Why BMI is an unreliable health metric and how weight‑inclusive care improves patient outcomes and satisfaction.
  • Actionable steps for clinicians and coaches (e.g., avoid routine weighing, use neutral language, provide size‑accessible equipment)
  • And practical tips for listeners to break free from diet culture: ditch diet apps, focus on intuitive eating, prioritize sleep, and limit comparison‑driven fitness tracking.

Episode Resources:

TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine program: https://www.healthpartners.com/care/tria-orthopedics/services/womens-sports-medicine/

Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/

Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:

https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/

Follow us on Instagram:

@feisty_womens_performance

Visit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcasts

Support our Partners:

Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first order

Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/

Wahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/0GAByR

Tifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/

If you found this conversation valuable, hit subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave a review on your favorite platform. Have questions or topics you’d like us to explore? DM us on Instagram.

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Feisty Women's PerformanceBy Dr. Erin Ayala

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