Why Do We Like To Eat So Much? Understand Eating Behaviors with Dr. Michael Vallis
Dr. Monica Aggarwal sits down with Dr. Michael Vallis, a leading health psychologist specializing in chronic disease management. They delve into the pervasive impact of “diet culture” and discuss how to shift focus from mere numbers to sustainable behavioral change. Dr. Vallis shares invaluable insights on self-compassion, navigating hunger cues, and practical strategies to overcome barriers in your health journey.
Key Areas We Discuss
Why is sleep important?
Why so some people change and others don’t? What are the factors?
What drives self-improvement?
How can clinicians motivate change?
When people struggle with obesity, are the factors for change the same?
How do you help people change?
About Dr. Michael Vallis, PhD. R. Psych:
Dr. Vallis is a health psychologist based in Halifax, Canada. He is an Associate Professor in Family Medicine at Dalhousie University. He obtained his Ph.D. and M.A from the University of Western Ontario, London, and his B. Sc. From Dalhousie University. His main area of expertise is adult health psychology, with an emphasis on obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular risk and gastroenterology. He spends most of his time training healthcare providers in behavior change for chronic disease management. He regularly supervises clinical and academic students and is active in research on motivation, behavioral change and adaptation to chronic disease. He consults nationally as well as internationally and is heavily involved in academic publications, journal editing, and clinical practice guidelines. He was on the executive of the Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Obesity (2020) and lead author of the Psychological and Behavioural Chapter for these new guidelines as well as the 2006 guidelines. As well, he is an author of the Psychology and Mental Health chapter of Diabetes Canada’s Clinical Practice Guidelines (2023, 2018, 2013, 2004). He received the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons, the 2021 Charles H Best award from Diabetes Canada and holds a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Government of Canada on the recommendation of the Diabetes Canada.
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