Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition & Fitness: Navigating Diet Culture Through a Weight-Inclusive Lens
Many professionals in health and wellness fields may not recognize the ways in which language and practice can reinforce diet culture. Supporting the pursuit of weight loss can contribute to disordered eating patterns, yo-yo dieting/weight cycling, and weight stigma. Without conscious reflection, even MI practitioners may inadvertently reinforce these messages, causing further harm.
Weight-neutral or weight-inclusive approaches offer another way forward by taking the focus off of weight outcomes, and instead focusing on sustainable changes that honor health and well-being. This 1-hour virtual session will include tangible strategies for applying weight inclusive practices into motivational interviewing sessions. Participants will explore how MI can help practitioners hold space for their client’s desire for weight loss while also discussing the benefits of moving away from a dieting mindset.
Who Can Register?
This course is for coaches, dietitians, therapists and helping professionals at the beginner through advanced level.
Sign up to attend live, or receive recording access if you cannot attend the live event!
After participating in this activity, learners will be able to:
- Describe 3 key differences between weight centric and weight neutral care.
- Identify at 2 ways MI can support weight-inclusive, autonomy-supportive care
Join us on Thursday, October 1, 2026 from 12:00-1:00pm ET (11am CT/10am MT/9am PT/ 2pm UTC)
Can't attend live? Sign up for recording access. CE provided for live virtual attendance only.
Registration ends October 1 at 10:59am ET! Please review our FAQs before registering.
Speaker Bio(s):
Speaker Bio:
Dawn Clifford, PhD, RD is a Professor in the Health Sciences Department at Northern Arizona University. She’s a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. Her research is in motivational interviewing, health coaching, and weight inclusive approaches to health and well-being. She co-authored Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness (2nd eds, Guilford Press) and is the author of 5-Minute MI: Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Health When Time is Short (Skelly Skills, 2020).
Angelina Moore Maia, Ph.D., RDN, LDN, is a Maine-based behavioral nutritionist and founder of Maia Consulting Group, with experience spanning higher education, corporate healthcare, and clinical practice. She holds a Ph.D. in Food and Nutrition Sciences from the University of Maine, with research focused on family nutrition and motivational interviewing. A member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since 2016, Angelina trains and coaches in a variety of settings, with a focus on motivational interviewing and weight-inclusive care.
View our course syllabus for more details: https://www.micenterforchange.com/nutrition-fitness-MI
