Ep 60: The Hidden Impact of Eating Disorders on Brain Health and Executive Function (ft. Dr. Emily Gordon)

Today’s episode is especially important for people to find - we’re covering the topic of eating disorders - it’s a tough one but so important to talk about as eating disorders are so much more than you may realize. Beyond simply affecting what someone does or doesn’t eat, they also impact brain function, emotional regulation, and the other critically important executive functioning skills we use every day like impulse control, focus, and decision-making. To help us understand these challenges, I sat down with Dr. Emily Gordon, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in adolescents and young adults, with expertise in eating disorders, body image, and parenting. Dr. Gordon has worked in clinical leadership roles at McLean Hospital. She helped launch the Klarman Center for Eating Disorders and now runs a private practice in Massachusetts. She’s also a parent of three teenagers. So listen today to learn from Dr. Gordon as she teaches us about the different types of eating disorders, their impact on executive functioning, and the early warning signs parents should look out for. If you're a parent navigating these challenges, you’re not alone. Supporting a child through something like this can be overwhelming, and I’ve seen in my own experience that many families find that the addition of executive function coaching helps bring structure and support in times of stress. If you’re curious to learn more about how we help, you can visit our website at beyond booksmart.com Show Notes Learn More About Dr. Emily Gordon Website: www.dremilygordon.com Instagram: @dremilygordon LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/dremilygordon Subscribe to her newsletter: dr-emily-gordon.kit.com/podcast Learn More About Eating Disorders What are Eating Disorders? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders National Eating Disorders Association https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/resource-center/ Executive dysfunction in eating disorders: Relationship with clinical features https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36181959/ Exploring the Relationship Between Disordered Eating and Executive Function in a Non-Clinical Sample https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0031512520937569 Get in Touch [email protected] Instagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching www.beyondbooksmart.com