206. Why Every Woman Struggles With Weight After 50 (And What Actually Helps)

🎙️ Too Young to Be Old: Eating, Aging & the Truth About Menopause: Why You’re Not to Blame for Your Changing Body

What if your struggles with weight, eating habits, and body image in midlife have deeper roots than you think? Diane Gilman sits down with renowned eating disorder dietitian Jessica Setnick for a revelatory, compassionate look at how grief, trauma, menopause, and intergenerational messages all shape our bodies and our eating behaviors. From emotional eating to the unexpected science behind “menopause weight,” discover why true health goes way beyond calories-plus practical steps to reclaim confidence and self-care at any age.

In This Episode:

• You’re Not to Blame: Why trauma and grief change your body chemistry-and how reaching for comfort isn’t a weakness but a survival skill.
• Generational Food Messages: How family histories (from the Great Depression to immigrant stories) impact how we eat, how we see ourselves, and what we pass on.
• The Menopause Effect: Why weight gain, body changes, and mood shifts during menopause are normal - and why they’re often ignored or misdiagnosed.
• Controlling the Uncontrollable: Why we use food (and other habits) for comfort and control in times of loss, loneliness, or transition.
• Body Perception vs. Reality: Fascinating research on why we almost always see ourselves as “bigger” than we really are, and why body image is often out of sync with reality.
• The Science of Second Puberty: Menopause explained-why it’s a second puberty, how hormone changes ripple through your whole body, and what “new normal” really means.
• Real Talk with Doctors: The blunt advice (and sometimes total lack of compassion) women often get from GPs-and why advocating for yourself and seeking the right specialist is essential.
• Emotional vs. Physical Symptom: Why menopause symptoms like weight gain, night eating, and body changes must be seen as real, reportable medical symptoms-not personal failings.
• Actionable Advice for It All: Jessica’s top tips, from “get comfy clothes” to requesting targeted bloodwork, and how to find a doctor who actually listens.
• Workbook & Resources: A special offer on Jessica’s “Healing Your Inner Eater” workbook-plus a candid chat on the real-life struggle of making healthy choices in a busy, modern world.
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Special Offers & Resources Mentioned:

✨A special segment on Partiqlar supplements for aging and inflammation!

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✨ Get Jessica Setnick’s workbook “Healing Your Inner Eater” at healingyourinnereater.com—use code “podcast” for a special discount.

Connect with Diane Gilman:

1. YouTube: @thedianegilman
2. Facebook: TheDianeGilman
3. Instagram: @thedianegilman
4. TikTok: @thedianegilman
5. Website & Mailing List: TheDianeGilman.com

#MenopauseTruth #BodyImage #EatingDisorders #TooYoungToBeOld #DianeGilman #EmotionalEating #AgingWell #JessicaSetnick #WomenSupportingWomen

Disclaimer: This episode reflects real-life experiences and expert perspectives, but is not medical advice. Consult your personal healthcare provider for any health concerns.