Body Image Challenges, PCOS & Endometriosis Insights, & Eating Disorder Recovery with Victoria Garrick Browne

In this episode of SHE MD, hosts Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi welcome Victoria Garrick Browne, a former D1 athlete and mental health advocate. They explore Victoria's journey through eating disorders, body image issues, and potential PCOS diagnosis. The conversation dives into the challenges faced by female athletes and the importance of proper medical care for women's health issues.

Access more information about the podcast and additional expert health tips by visiting SHE MD Podcast and Ovii.

Victoria is a 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, TEDxTalk speaker, mental health advocate, podcast host of Real Pod, and former Division I Athlete who has amassed 2M+ followers across social media where she's known for her unfiltered campaign, #RealPost.

Victoria first began sharing her story of how she battled and overcame depression & anxiety as a student-athlete in her 2017 TEDx Talk, “The Hidden Opponent,” which has been viewed over 600,000 times. She delivered the talk as a sophomore member of the USC’s Women's Volleyball Team, where she was a four-year starter and PAC-12 Champion.

She is also the Founder & Chair of the Board for the mental health non-profit, The Hidden Opponent, which is a national partner of Adidas and was recognized as a standout resource for athletes by Kobe Bryant.

Victoria brings her message of authenticity to life daily on her social media platforms as well as her podcast, Real Pod, which has surpassed 8M downloads and featured guests like Katie Couric, Rainn Wilson, Mike Posner, & Kerri Walsh-Jennings.

Victoria also tours the country speaking at business conferences and universities throughout the country in hopes of destigmatizing the conversation around mental health and encouraging all people to be their unfiltered selves.

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5 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Female athletes often face unique challenges balancing athletic performance with societal beauty standards, which can lead to disordered eating and body image issues.
PCOS is frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, emphasizing the need for comprehensive testing and patient advocacy.
Intuitive eating can be a powerful tool for healing one's relationship with food and improving their perception of a healthy body image.
Women's Health Advocacy: Importance of being one's own health advocate. Discussion on the frequent dismissal of women's health concerns by medical professionals.
Early egg count testing and fertility awareness are crucial for women, especially those with potential PCOS or a history of birth control use.

IN THIS EPISODE:

(01:30) Intro
(06:22) What can trigger a Binge Eating Disorder?
(08:20) What is Intuitive Eating?
(12:30) Getting evaluated for PCOS: Symptoms and period
(16:30) How do you know if you have PCOS?
(23:35) Relationship between PCOS and eating disorders
(34:50) Social media's role in health awareness and self-advocacy
(36:50) Managing painful periods as a female athlete
(41:45) What is the difference between Egg freezing vs. Embryo freezing?
(44:01) Finding support for mental health issues

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RESOURCES:

Victoria’s Website

The Hidden Opponent - Non-Profit Org. Founded by Victoria

Victoria’s Instagram

Victoria’s TikTok

The Real Pod - Victoria's podcast

Recommended by Victoria: https://geneenroth.com/

Body Image Challenges, PCOS & Endometriosis Insights, & Eating Disorder Recovery with Victoria Garrick Browne

About the Guest