Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that impact millions of individuals and often intersect with obesity in unexpected ways. In this OAC Health Talk, psychologist and certified eating disorders specialist Kelly Broadwater, LPA, and anti-weight discrimination advocate Melinda J Watman, RN, will delve into various eating disorders and their connection to obesity. The pair will also outline essential treatment components and guide you on where to find help if you or a loved one is struggling.

Kelly Broadwater, LPA, LCMHC, CEDS-C is a psychologist and certified eating disorders specialist with over 20 years experience working with metabolic and bariatric surgery patients and treating higher weight patients with eating disorders at both the outpatient and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) levels of care at her practice The Chrysalis Center for Counseling & Eating Disorder Treatment. She is especially passionate about educating patients and other healthcare providers about eating disorders, addictions, and other mental health concerns, frequently presenting on these topics at conferences, via podcasts and in the press. She is co-author of the book BariEDucated: An Integrated Health Guide for Behavioral Specialist and Dietitians Caring for Bariatric Surgery Patients.

Melinda J Watman, RN, BSN, MSN, CNM, MBA is the president and founder of Weighty Decision, a service providing accurate and comprehensive information for those trying to determine their weight management plan. She is a board member of the Obesity Action Coalition and a founding member and chair of the Mass Coalition for Action on Obesity. She does advocacy work on equal access to care and anti-weight bias/discrimination legislation. She is a frequent speaker on the topics of obesity with eating disorders/disordered eating to ensure patients receive the appropriate care by educating clinicians to recognize, diagnose, and treat these findings.

Melinda’s experiences also include running a graduate-level education program within the USC School of Medicine, being the CEO and co-founder of a medical device company, founding two consulting companies, and owning a French restaurant. She is a strong supporter of entrepreneurs/entrepreneurship and is a mentor for the MIT Venture Mentoring Service and the Boston University BUild Lab.

OAC Health Talks are short (~20 minute) educational videos diving deeper into specific health topics we know our community and the public care about. They are designed to empower individuals by educating and connecting them to trusted health experts who lean on the science to provide straightforward, practical answers and insight. Our Health Talks will provide an open space that supports conversation, engages viewers in specific and relevant health topics, and lets you connect with peers while watching.