Biases Against Atypical Anorexia: Why the Label Fails Us

What if your body size determined whether or not doctors believed you had anorexia? In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land: An Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast, Dr. Marianne Miller, LMFT, challenges the diagnosis of atypical anorexia and reveals why this label fails people who deserve to be taken seriously.

This category is not about atypical symptoms. It is about anti-fat bias. People in larger bodies who restrict food, obsess about weight, and experience medical complications are often told they cannot truly have anorexia because they do not look emaciated. This episode explains why that belief is harmful, how it delays treatment, and the real medical risks that exist at any body size.

Dr. Marianne also explores how anti-fat bias, weight stigma, and cultural stereotypes erase the experiences of marginalized people, especially fat, queer, neurodivergent, disabled, and BIPOC communities. She challenges providers and listeners to recognize anorexia for what it is: a serious illness in every body, not only in those that match the stereotype.

If you have ever been given the label “atypical anorexia,” this episode will affirm what you may already know. Your suffering is valid, you deserve care, and you do not need to prove how sick you are in order to receive treatment.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why the label “atypical anorexia” exists and how it reinforces anti-fat bias

• The medical risks of anorexia that occur across all body sizes

• How stereotypes harm people in larger bodies with eating disorders

• The role of intersectionality in who gets overlooked and dismissed

• How to move toward weight-inclusive eating disorder treatment

Who This Episode Is For

• People in recovery from atypical anorexia or restrictive eating

• Families supporting a loved one with an eating disorder

• Providers seeking to understand anti-fat bias in treatment settings

• Anyone who has ever been told they were not “sick enough”

Related Episodes

• Atypical Anorexia Explained: Why Restriction Happens at Every Body Size on Apple or Spotify.
• Atypical Anorexia with Amy Ornelas, RD on Apple or Spotify.
• Atypical Anorexia: Mental & Physical Health Risks, Plus How the Term is Controversial on Apple or Spotify.
• What Is Atypical Anorexia? Challenging Weight Bias in Eating Disorder Treatment with Emma Townsin, RD @food.life.freedom on Apple or Spotify.

Connect With Dr. Marianne Miller

I am Dr. Marianne Miller, LMFT, a fat eating disorder therapist specializing in anorexia, ARFID, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. I provide therapy in California, Texas, and Washington, D.C., and offer online resources worldwide.

🌐 Learn more and explore resources: drmariannemiller.com
🎧 Listen to more episodes: Dr. Marianne-Land: An Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast on Apple and Spotify

➡️ You can also follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller