All Episodes

October 15, 2019 31 mins

Licensed professional counselor Caley Featherstone worries that society’s obsession with quick-fix weight loss solutions and social media are taking a toll on our youth. “We live in a culture that is very diet oriented,” she says of the multi-billion-dollar diet industry.

 

In this episode of The Healthcare Podcast, Featherstone shares her personal experience with an eating disorder, how to recognize symptoms, and what parents can do to help with their children’s mental health and wellbeing.

 

Featherstone’s interest in a counseling career began in childhood. As a young athlete, she excelled in cross country and track. At age 11, she came in 10th at a national track meet. Disappointed with the results, her physical and mental health declined as she combatted anorexia nervosa.

 

Now, Featherstone focuses on helping kids and families deal with the secrecy and stereotyping associated with eating disorders. In this episode of The Healthcare Podcast, Featherstone shares her experiences working with children and teens and her research at Boise State. Featherstone believes that genetics play a role in eating disorders along with temperament and emotional stress.

 

People with eating disorders experience significant impairment – it is completely controlling their life, she said. As a counselor, Featherstone is looking for signs of distress.

 

The repercussions of an eating disorder are far-reaching. Treatment options – hospitalization, residential rehab, counseling appointments and more – can last for months; recovery can take years. The health ramifications include abdominal discomfort, renal failure, and cardiac episodes. The relapse rate is 35-40%.

 

Featherstone is seeking to dispel myths and destigmatize the topic in order to help children and adults overcome the challenges. Education is a key strategy. She urges parents to recognize that their words and behavior can have a lasting impact, and to focus more on a child’s potential and less on body image.

 

Eating disorders can pose a lifetime challenge. As an adult, Featherstone struggles from injuries resulting from her eating disorder and being malnourished early in life. “To understand that level of obsession and fear around food is unfathomable.”


-----------------------------------


The Healthcare Podcast hosted by Dr. John Kaiser and health advocate Linsy Heiner aims to uncover the myths of modern healthcare, to help families discover cost transparency, improved access, and innovation. The podcast is available through many platforms and clips of each podcast are shared across all social media platforms. Have an idea for a guest or want us to discuss a topic? Make sure to comment on social media and get your questions answered. Leave a review on whatever platform you decide to listen on and tell your friends!


Listen Here: https://bit.ly/2lUQYcd 


Watch here: https://bit.ly/2KCP4rS 


Learn More here: https://saltzerhealth.com/podcasts/


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltzerHealth/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltzerhealth/


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salt...


Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaltzerHealth


Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/saltzerhealth


Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

True Crime Tonight

True Crime Tonight

If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.

The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.