This week we sat down with Kirsty Armstrong and Sophie O'Horan from SYEDA (South Yorkshire Eating Disorder Association) for an episode that should be essential listening for anyone who trains, parents and coaches.

Eating disorders don’t just appear in extreme cases or dramatic headlines, they often grow quietly inside environments that look “healthy,” fuelled by pressure, misunderstanding and the kind of shame that keeps people silent.

Together, we tear into the three layers of stigma that stop people getting help: the public stigma shaped by society’s assumptions, the structural stigma baked into policies like BMI-based gatekeeping, and the self-stigma that twists someone’s own view of their worth and their struggle.

The girls open up about their own struggles and discuss SYEDA’s mission with clarity and heart, supporting individuals, educating families, and reshaping the systems that make recovery harder than it needs to be.

If you’ve ever worried about a friend, a client or your own child, this episode gives you the early warning signs to look for, the communication skills that actually help, and the confidence to start a difficult conversation with compassion instead of fear.

They also break down their training resources, explain how to access support, and share real service-user stories that remind us recovery is possible, powerful and worth the effort.

This episode isn’t just informative, it’s a quiet wake-up call to build a fitness culture that lifts people up instead of pushing them over the edge.

#EatingDisorderAwareness

#RecoveryIsPossible

#MentalHealthInFitness

#SupportNotStigma

#StrongBodyStrongMind