Episode 93: Recovering as a Transmasculine Person with Dev Seacrest

Episode description: In this episode, Dr. Dev Seacrest returns to Peace Meal to reflect on how his evolving understanding of gender, body image, and disability has shaped his recovery from both anorexia and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).  Since first joining us in 2020, Dev has gained deeper clarity on how gender dysphoria influenced his relationship with food and body image. He talks about embracing fatness as a trans man, finding support in a men’s body image group, and receiving a revised diagnosis that helped explain his chronic pain and changing mobility needs. Through these experiences, Dev shares what it means to recover on his own terms—honoring gender identity, disability, and fat embodiment, and building a more peaceful relationship with his body along the way. About Dev: Dr. Dev Seacrest (he/him) is a transmasculine professor who uses his lived experience to identify areas for growth among individuals and communities. He has found that advocating for people with eating disorders, disabilities, chronic illness, and/or who are in larger bodies has been effective and rewarding. It has also helped him to better understand and accept himself as a member of all of these groups. We cover: How gender dysphoria and weight stigma shaped Dev’s eating disorder How evolving language helped him make sense of his body and identity The relief and clarity of receiving accurate chronic illness diagnoses How chronic illness complicates food access, hunger cues, and body trust What affirming, weight-neutral, and trauma-informed care can look like How advocacy has helped Dev find greater self-acceptance and community In Dev's words: On embracing his identity: “One thing that was really hard for me since the beginning was the idea of being a fat woman. And there's nothing wrong with being a fat woman, but I finally realized that the part that I was afraid of wasn't the fat part; it was the woman part. Being a fat man is something that I can accept and embrace…I needed to have the gender concept down before I could start adding to it.” On rejecting healthism and reclaiming rest: “I’ve come a long way [with] healthism…I don’t have to earn respect or earn food or earn rest. Fat people deserve rest, too.” On the importance of affirming, compassionate care: “One of the things that really helped was being diagnosed and having doctors say, ‘I see that you're in pain,’ ‘I see that you're having issues’—so many people don't get that. It’s so important to have doctors and providers who believe you." On defining his body on his own terms: “My body is a man's body. And is that because of various surgeries or anything like that, or the clothes that I wear? No, it's because it's my body, so it's a man's body.” Learn more about The Emily Program online or by calling 1-888-364-5977.  – About the podcast: Peace Meal is a podcast hosted by The Emily Program that covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking. You can find Peace Meal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube Music. If you enjoy our show, please rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends! Are you interested in being a guest on Peace Meal? Email podcast@emilyprogram.com for more information.