Athletes and Eating Disorders with Dietitian Tayla Clegg

Understanding Body Matters Podcast

On this week’s episode I am super excited to be introducing you to our next special guest Dietitian, Tayla Clegg. Tayla lives on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and grew up in the world of athletics. This is where she personally went through her own lived experience with disordered eating. Having personally experienced the difficulties with disordered eating, Tayla then became motivated to be able to support other individuals within this space. Being able to support not only athletes but anyone looking to free themselves from disordered eating. Within her own practice Tayla promotes being able to break free from diet cycles, working through disordered eating and/ or obsessive exercise patterns, supporting general nutrition goals in a sustainable way, working through body image challenges, creating positive sustainable nutrition habits, and fuelling sporting performance and everyday activities. Prioritising collaboration when working with clients around their nutrition, health, or performance goals.

On this week’s episode Tayla shares her lived experience with disordered and provides some education around working with athletes in the eating disorder space. To shed some light on the vulnerabilities that athletes can face with eating disorders but also to acknowledge some protective factors that athletes can also utilise. As someone who recognises the dangers with diet culture, misinformation, fad diets and the medias influence, Tayla aims to promote a life for athletes that does not need to be of only “extremes” when it comes to food and body. Promoting the act of being courageous when it comes to reaching out and seeking professional assistance when the signs are there. Providing a supportive, considerate, empathetic and goal- orientated framework for clients. Assisting people through the process of creating a long-term healthy relationship with food, body, and exercise.

Podcast Summary:

1. The pressures within athletics

2. Reaching out to a health professional

3. Protective factors for athletes

4. Being aware of your own internal dialogue

5. Having a good team around you

Links to Tayla:

Links via Link tree: linktr.ee/fuelled.with.tayla

Instagram: @fuelled.with.tayla

Website: https://tayla-clegg-dietitian.squarespace.com/

Links from the episode:

BodyMatters Australasia Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bodymatters.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠

BodyMatters Instagram: @bodymattersau

Butterfly Foundation Helpline: Call their National Helpline on ⁠⁠⁠⁠1800 33 4673⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also ⁠⁠⁠⁠chat online⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠email