531: Obesity And Hopelessness: A Teen's Story Of Processed Food Addiction And Its Consequences With Helene Leeds & Penelope Popken

531: Obesity And Hopelessness: A Teen's Story Of Processed Food Addiction And Its Consequences With Helene Leeds & Penelope Popken

Author: Weston A. Price Foundation June 16, 2025 Duration: 48:23

Have you ever felt addicted to ultra-processed foods---like you knew they were bad for you, but you couldn't stop indulging? This happened to our guest today who at age 15 weighed over 300 lbs. And she didn't know who she was anymore.

Today, Penelope Popken is 19 and she's overcome her addictive behavior.

During this revealing interview, mother and daughter discuss what led to Penelope's struggles with weight, the drugs she took, the (mostly unhelpful) therapists' recommendations and more. They go over how most weight loss drugs (including Ozempic) and other quick fixes (like gastric bypass surgeries) have dire consequences. And they cover what it took to turn things around for Penelope. By the way, her healing path included not just returning to real nourishing food but addressing dysfunctional family patterns that contributed to unhealthy behavior.

Since both Helene and Penelope have had to overcome their individual struggles with unhealthy eating and obesity, they have started the Step it UP program to help other women in just their position. After failed attempts at diets, injections, and pills, they are on a mission to help everyone learn how to nourish themselves more deeply and to thrive.

 

Visit Helene and Penelope's websites: Step it UP and Step It UP Accountability Group

Register for the Wise Traditions conference at wisetraditions.org

Check out our sponsors: Optimal Carnivore and Alive Waters


The conversations on Wise Traditions, presented by the Weston A. Price Foundation, explore a path to well-being that feels almost forgotten. This isn't about the latest trends or synthetic solutions; it's a deep dive into the dietary patterns and living wisdom of ancestral communities who achieved remarkable physical health. Each episode brings forward voices-researchers, farmers, clinicians, and healers-who discuss practical applications of this knowledge for contemporary life. You'll hear detailed discussions on sourcing and preparing nutrient-dense foods, the role of traditional fats, the gut microbiome, and the profound connections between soil health and human health. The podcast operates from a core principle articulated by Dr. Weston A. Price himself: that true vitality comes from aligning with nature's laws, not attempting to supersede them. It’s for anyone questioning conventional dietary advice and seeking a more rooted, evidence-based approach to fitness and holistic wellness. Tune in for a consistently challenging and enriching perspective that redefines what it means to be truly nourished, drawing on centuries of human experience to inform our choices today.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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