Becoming comfortable with discomfort: Why nutrition in obesity care needs to feel different with Jennifer Brown, RD, CBE
Scale Up Your Practice by Obesity CanadaShow Notes
In this episode of Scale Up Your Practice, we dive into the kind of discomfort that sparks real change—in ourselves, in our conversations, and in how we support people living with obesity.
Registered Dietitian and Certified Bariatric Educator Jennifer Brown shares how her experiences—both personal and professional—have shaped the way she supports people living with obesity.
From rethinking nutrition counselling to navigating difficult conversations about stigma and bias, Jennifer reflects on what it means to provide care that’s rooted in evidence, empathy, and curiosity.
If you’ve read the Medical Nutrition Therapy chapter of the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines, you already know her work—this episode brings her voice to life.
🎯 In this episode, we explore: What Medical Nutrition Therapy actually is—and why it’s often misunderstood
Why discomfort is part of the process when confronting weight bias and stigma
How dietitians and other professionals can unlearn harmful narratives and lean into better conversations
The emotional and systemic discomfort that comes with shifting practice
The power of language and humility in patient interactions
Real stories from Jennifer’s career that highlight transformation—and the messiness that often comes with it
We also pause for a Bias Break, where Jennifer shares a real-world moment that challenged her thinking and reminded her why this work matters.
If you’ve ever felt the tension between what you were taught and what your patients need, this episode offers a candid look at how leaning into discomfort can lead to more meaningful care.
Additional Resources Mentioned Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines – Medical Nutrition Therapy Chapter https://utm.guru/uipKv
Free Course: A Deep Dive into Medical Nutrition Therapy and Physical Activity https://utm.guru/uipKw Book: Why We Revolt: A Patient Revolution for Careful and Kind Care by Dr. Victor Montori https://utm.guru/uipKx
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Scale Up Your Practice is created by Obesity Canada. Learn more at obesitycanada.ca
More from Scale Up Your Practice by Obesity Canada
🎙️This episode is sponsored by an unrestricted education grant from Eli Lilly Canada
What happens when healthcare professionals know what evidence-informed obesity care should look like, but the system makes that care difficult to deliver? Ian Patton and Jennifer Brown join us on the podcast to unpack findings from The State of Obesity Care in Canada report and connect them to what clinicians and patients experience every day: limited referral pathways, uneven treatment coverage, gaps in psychological support, inconsistent access to metabolic bariatric surgery and the effects of weight bias at the system level.
🎙️This episode is sponsored by an unrestricted education grant from Eli Lilly Canada
🎙️This episode was made possible through the partnership between Obesity Canada and Boehringer Ingelheim in support of the Global Patient Charter Framework initiative.
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