Shelly Bar MD

Shelly Bar MD Eating Disorder Specialist
Internal Medicine & Adolescent Medicine

Outpatient Treatment:
📍 Los Angeles & Newport
💻 Telehealth medicine

In clinical practice, we often plan ahead for periods where routine naturally shifts, because these are times when suppo...
06/10/2026

In clinical practice, we often plan ahead for periods where routine naturally shifts, because these are times when support becomes especially important.

Ways we work to maintain stability during transitions can include:

• maintaining as much consistency as possible with meals and structure

• ensuring there is still some form of accountability or support touchpoint (e.g., parent/ designated support person who stays in the loop)

• planning ahead for schedule changes instead of waiting until after they happen

• keeping regular check-ins with providers, even if brief

• continuing therapy sessions through telehealth when needed

These are not “extra steps,” but part of protecting continuity of care during predictable disruptions in routine.

The goal is not to prevent change, but to maintain connection to support while change is happening. 💚

Commenting less. Listening more.Well-intended comments about how someone looks can unintentionally shift focus away from...
06/05/2026

Commenting less. Listening more.

Well-intended comments about how someone looks can unintentionally shift focus away from what truly matters clinically and therapeutically: how they are coping, what they are experiencing, and what support they actually need.

Meaningful recovery support begins when we prioritize dialogue over assumptions and curiosity over observation.

Relapse is best addressed early—when changes are still small, not when they become crises.It often shows up quietly thro...
06/04/2026

Relapse is best addressed early—when changes are still small, not when they become crises.

It often shows up quietly through subtle shifts in behavior, thinking patterns, and daily routines, even when someone says they are “fine” or appears to be functioning normally.

Early recognition matters. Here’s what to look for and what to do.

If you observe these signs, avoid waiting for confirmation or visible decline. Instead:
• Document specific changes you are noticing (what changed, when it started, how often it is occurring)
• Start a calm, non-confrontational conversation using observations rather than assumptions
• Encourage connection with their treatment provider or care team as early as possible
• If you are a family member, coordinate concerns with other supports instead of addressing it in isolation

It is important to understand that verbal reassurance (“I’m okay”) does not always reflect clinical stability. Many individuals may minimize symptoms due to shame, fear, or lack of insight into relapse patterns.

Relapse in eating disorders is not always visible—and it is rarely announced.

Healthcare is not one-size-fits-all.For many patients, the first step begins with a primary care provider who recognizes...
05/30/2026

Healthcare is not one-size-fits-all.

For many patients, the first step begins with a primary care provider who recognizes that something is wrong and helps guide them toward the next level of support. Being referred to specialized care means you need a different level of treatment that best fits your specific needs. 👥

Eating disorders are complex illnesses, and different patients require different approaches, levels of care, and treatment teams. Some may recover with outpatient support, while others may benefit from more specialized, multidisciplinary care. It’s simply individualized medicine.

If you or someone you love is struggling, it’s okay to ask questions, seek second opinions, advocate for more support, or explore appropriate specialized care options when needed. Education and early intervention can make a meaningful difference in accessing care.

Disclaimer: This post is meant to help clarify that different healthcare providers have different roles, scopes of practice, and areas of focus — not to suggest that one is better than the other. Both primary care providers and specialized doctors are essential parts of the healthcare system, working together at different points along a patient’s journey.

Struggling does not make someone weak, dramatic, or broken.It makes them human.Many silently struggle with:• substance a...
05/26/2026

Struggling does not make someone weak, dramatic, or broken.

It makes them human.

Many silently struggle with:
• substance abuse
• feeling unlovable or out of control
• self-harm
• PTSD or anxiety
• shame around their body
• fear of being a burden

Still, a person can:
• relapse multiple times and still recover
• hate their body and still learn to heal
• feel lost and still find purpose
• carry trauma and still build a safe life

Recovery doesn’t require perfection.
It starts with support, honesty, safety, and one decision to keep going.

If this feels like your story in any way:
You are not alone.
And your life is bigger than what happened to you. 🤍

You are not alone. 🫂❤️‍🩹Your story matters. Your healing matters.No one should feel invisible in their struggle because ...
05/25/2026

You are not alone. 🫂❤️‍🩹

Your story matters. Your healing matters.

No one should feel invisible in their struggle because of who they are or where they come from. Every person deserves care that feels safe, affirming, compassionate, and understanding—not shaped by stereotypes, stigma, or assumptions.

To anyone who has ever felt “not sick enough,” “too different,” or unseen in recovery spaces: your experiences are real, valid, and worthy of support. Healing is not reserved for one body type, culture, gender, sexuality, race, or background. There is room for all of us in recovery, and your voice deserves to be heard. 🤍 🌎

Together, we can continue breaking stigma, amplifying marginalized voices, and creating spaces where people feel represented, respected, and empowered to seek help.

Read more on ↓

Reference:
National Eating Disorders Association. (n.d.). Specialized communities. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/grace-holland-cozine-resource-center-specialized-communities/

Menopause is a significant life transition that can bring noticeable changes in the body and mind. Hormonal shifts may s...
05/22/2026

Menopause is a significant life transition that can bring noticeable changes in the body and mind.

Hormonal shifts may show up as sleep disruption, fatigue, bloating, weight changes, or mood fluctuations—sometimes making the body feel unfamiliar. These experiences can understandably affect self-perception, but they are not signs of failure. They reflect a 𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 that deserves patience, understanding, and care. 🤍

Recent evidence suggests that this stage may also increase vulnerability to body image concerns, especially when symptoms are more intense (Vincent et al., 2023) 📚 This highlights the importance of slowing down self-judgment and responding to the body with more compassion rather than criticism.

Even when your body feels different, it is still supporting you, adapting, and carrying you through change 🌿 Offering it kindness during this transition can make the experience feel more grounded and manageable.

References:

National Eating Disorders Association. (n.d.). Eating disorders in midlife and beyond. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/eating-disorders-and-midlife-and-beyond/

Vincent, C., Bodnaruc, A. M., Prud’homme, D., Olson, V., & Giroux, I. (2023). Associations between menopause and body image: A systematic review. Women’s Health, 19. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231209536

Upon hearing and reading this article by The Wall Street Journal, it’s sad seeing how many young men genuinely feel like...
05/12/2026

Upon hearing and reading this article by The Wall Street Journal, it’s sad seeing how many young men genuinely feel like they’ll never be “good enough” because of how social media keeps raising the standard of what the “ideal man” should look like.

This highlights an important but often overlooked reality: body image concerns are not limited to women. Many men also experience significant pressure related to appearance, which can impact self-esteem, mental health, and overall well-being too. It is a timely reminder that worth should never be measured against curated online ideals or algorithm-driven body standards.

💭 This reflection is inspired by the article Looksmaxxing: How the Quest for Physical Perfection Is Changing Young Men published by The Wall Street Journal. Full credit is given to the original author and reporting.

Reference:
Frohlich, T. C. (2024, May 16). Looksmaxxing: How the quest for physical perfection is changing young men. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/looksmaxxing-young-men-b4d8b07c

HAES 🌿 stands for Health At Every Size — a weight-inclusive approach that supports overall well-being by focusing on com...
05/08/2026

HAES 🌿 stands for Health At Every Size — a weight-inclusive approach that supports overall well-being by focusing on compassionate, evidence-based care rather than defining health solely by body size. 🤍

Recovery care should create safety, trust, and dignity — not fear around body size or shame around food.

Approaches like HAES encourage providers, families, and patients to look at the bigger picture of health: nourishment, emotional well-being, medical stability, and quality of life. Every recovery journey deserves compassionate, individualized support. 🌸

Not every eating disorder looks the way people expect—and that’s where many go unnoticed.Being aware of subtle patterns ...
04/29/2026

Not every eating disorder looks the way people expect—and that’s where many go unnoticed.

Being aware of subtle patterns can make a meaningful difference. ⚠️
Changes in eating habits, avoiding meals, feeling out of control around food, frequent guilt after eating, or relying on compensatory behaviors (like purging or over-exercising) are all signs that shouldn’t be dismissed.

It’s also important to recognize that someone does not need to look underweight to be struggling. Many individuals with eating disorders appear physically “fine,” which often delays support and care.

Early recognition leads to earlier support. 🤍
And support can change outcomes.

Let’s continue to create space for conversations that go beyond stereotypes—because understanding is the first step toward helping. 🌱

References (APA 7th):

Deloitte Access Economics. (2020). The social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States of America. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/striped/report-economic-costs-of-eating-disorders/

Eating Recovery Center. (2026). Eating disorder statistics. https://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/resources/eating-disorder-statistics

National Eating Disorders Association. (2024). Eating disorder statistics. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics/

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90025

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