Mika Brzezinski, the co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, has openly shared her lifelong struggles with food and body image. Despite maintaining a seemingly slender figure, she reveals a history of disordered eating patterns and an ongoing battle with food obsessions. Her story, detailed in her book "Obsessed: America's Food Addiction -- and My Own," co-written with Diane Smith, aims to spark a conversation about food obsessions and the challenges many face in maintaining a healthy relationship with food.
Early Struggles and Disordered Eating
Brzezinski's issues with food began in high school, where she would consume large quantities of unhealthy food, such as multiple Big Macs at once. This pattern continued into college, marked by cycles of binge eating followed by periods of starvation and excessive exercise. She recounts instances of eating an entire pizza and then starving herself for several days, coupled with running 10 miles a day.
Her struggles included a brief period of bulimia, involving binging and purging, as well as "exercise bulimia," where she would overeat and then run excessively to compensate. At one point, a psychologist even suggested she had orthorexia nervosa, an unhealthy obsession with eating only healthful foods.
The Pressure to Be Thin
Brzezinski acknowledges the societal pressure to be thin, particularly in her career as a television host. She recalls being turned down for a job because she was deemed overweight. She notes that her professional success seemed to correlate with being thin, with people praising her appearance when she weighed around 120 pounds. However, when her weight increased to a healthier level, the positive feedback diminished.
Confronting a Friend and Facing Her Own Issues
Brzezinski's journey towards addressing her eating issues began when she confronted her friend and fellow TV journalist, Diane Smith, about her weight. Concerned about Smith's health, Brzezinski initiated a difficult conversation, telling her, "Diane, you have a problem we need to talk about," and using the words "fat" and "obese."
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This confrontation led to a deeper conversation where Brzezinski revealed her own struggles with food, admitting, "I am obsessed by food. I'm tortured by it." At the time, Brzezinski weighed around 120 pounds, while Smith weighed over 250 pounds.
Together, they made a pact: Smith would try to lose 75 pounds, and Brzezinski would gain 10 pounds. They decided to document their experiences in a book.
Seeking Help and Finding Balance
Since then, Smith has successfully lost 75 pounds, using the book advance to hire a personal trainer and join a hospital-based outpatient weight-loss program. She credits Brzezinski with giving her "my life back" and helping her realize that there are other ways to handle emotions besides eating.
Brzezinski also sought professional help, consulting with a psychologist and a nutritionist. The nutritionist found that she was consuming only about 1,200 calories a day, which was insufficient for someone who exercises regularly.
Brzezinski has managed to gain 10 pounds and feels she is making progress in her recovery. A significant victory for her is being able to go to bed without weighing herself and feeling guilty about what she ate during the day.
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The Importance of Self-Acceptance and Body Positivity
Brzezinski's story also highlights the importance of self-acceptance and body positivity. She shares her experience of training for a marathon and initially being concerned about potential weight gain. However, she discovered a community of runners who embraced weight gain as a sign of strength and adaptation to training.
She emphasizes that restrictive diets can be detrimental to athletes, leading to decreased performance and injuries. Instead of focusing on appearance, it's crucial to prioritize fueling the body properly to support training and overall health.
Brzezinski's journey reflects a shift in perspective from prioritizing appearance to valuing performance and self-acceptance. She encourages women to reject toxic messages about weight gain and embrace their bodies for their strength and resilience.
Addressing the Obesity Epidemic
In her book, Brzezinski also addresses the larger issue of the obesity epidemic in America. She argues that it's not solely a matter of personal responsibility but also a result of the environment in which we live, including the availability of processed foods and the societal pressures surrounding body image.
She calls for a national conversation about food and weight, emphasizing the need to address the factors that contribute to disordered eating and obesity.
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Mika's Pandemic Weight Gain and Reset
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brzezinski, like many others, found herself seeking comfort in food, leading to a weight gain of 15 pounds. She realized that she needed to reset her habits and regain control over her eating.
She emphasized the importance of self-compassion and avoiding self-blame during this challenging time. Instead, she focused on making realistic changes, such as allowing herself one brownie instead of three and being more mindful about her food choices.
She also recognized the connection between physical activity and her mood, motivating herself to resume running and hold herself accountable.