Feed Yourself: Step Away from the Lies of Diet Culture and Into Your Divine Design
A Clinical Review by IMPACT Psychological Services
Reviewed by: Dr. Tracy A. Prout, Ph.D.
Clinical Director, IMPACT Psychological Services
Specialist in Eating Disorders and Body Image Treatment
Published: April 2024 | Last Updated: August 2025
Comprehensive Clinical Review
In my 15 years treating eating disorders and body image concerns at IMPACT Psychological Services, I've witnessed the devastating impact of diet culture on individuals across all ages and backgrounds. "Feed Yourself: Step Away from the Lies of Diet Culture and into Your Divine Design" by Leslie Schilling offers a revolutionary approach that aligns remarkably with the evidence-based treatment we provide at our practice. This book isn't just another anti-diet manifesto—it's a comprehensive healing resource that addresses the spiritual, psychological, and practical aspects of recovery from disordered eating.
What sets Schilling's work apart is her unique integration of faith-based perspectives with solid nutritional science and psychological insights. As a registered dietitian and certified specialist in sports dietetics, Schilling brings professional credibility while maintaining accessibility. Her approach resonates deeply with many of our clients who struggle to reconcile their faith with their relationship with food and their bodies.
Connection to IMPACT's Eating Disorder Treatment Services
At IMPACT Psychological Services, we've integrated key concepts from "Feed Yourself" into our comprehensive eating disorder treatment program. The book's framework complements our multidisciplinary approach, which combines:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E): Schilling's work on identifying and challenging diet culture directly supports our CBT interventions. Chapter 3, "Unlearning the Lies," provides exercises we've adapted for use in individual therapy sessions, helping clients recognize and restructure distorted thoughts about food, weight, and worth.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): The book's emphasis on self-compassion and radical acceptance aligns with DBT principles we employ. Clients in our DBT-A program particularly benefit from Schilling's discussion of sitting with discomfort without turning to disordered eating behaviors.
Family-Based Treatment (FBT): For our adolescent clients, we've found the book invaluable in parent coaching sessions. Parents often struggle with their own diet culture beliefs while trying to support their child's recovery. Chapter 7, "Raising Intuitive Eaters," has become required reading for families in our program.
Nutritional Rehabilitation: Our collaboration with registered dietitians is enhanced by Schilling's practical approach to rebuilding trust with food. Her "Divine Design" concept helps clients move from external food rules to internal wisdom—a critical shift in sustainable recovery.
Why IMPACT Strongly Recommends This Resource
After integrating "Feed Yourself" into our eating disorder treatment program for the past two years, we've observed:
Increased Treatment Engagement: Clients report feeling "seen" by Schilling's approach
Improved Family Involvement: Families have an accessible framework for supporting recovery
Reduced Shame: The spiritual reframe decreases moral distress around eating
Enhanced Recovery Maintenance: Practical tools support long-term recovery
Better Treatment Outcomes: Clients using the book show improved treatment retention and recovery markers
