via Los Angeles Times
At the LA Times Studios Inspirational Women Forum & Leadership Awards, Live + Well panelists unpack burnout, fertility, AI-driven health and why credible, science-backed wellness matters more than ever
In a world overloaded with wellness trends, credible information and science-backed solutions are what actually move the needle on long-term health. This conversation unfolded on the Live + Well stage at the annual Business by LA Times Studios Inspirational Women Forum & Leadership Awards, which recently celebrated its fifth year.
The gathering honored top women leaders across Southern California, and this year’s wellness panel brought together voices pushing the conversation forward: Nina Westbrook, Melanie Murphy Richter, and Tina Sarkisyan, moderated by ‘Live + Well’ podcast host Melissa Magsaysay.
ON BODY LITERACY AND WELLNESS
Melanie Murphy Richter: “Body literacy is a concept that you quite literally know your body, you listen to it, you honor what it’s telling you. You listen to the signals and understand what they mean. In today’s society, where we are so busy and stressed, we don’t always listen, and we’re relying on external people to tell us what’s wrong. We need doctors and credentialed healthcare practitioners, but we need to be our own advocate. For women in general, it’s even more important whether it be to get pregnant or master empowerment or present our gifts to the world. There is so much less advocacy for women in the research and medical space.”
Nina Westbrook: “We’re wearing so many different hats, especially as women. And we’re going through all of these different phases and seasons in our lives. One thing that seems to be congruent through it all is the idea of the invisible load. We are not only being tasked with being caregivers, siblings, sisters, mothers, children, parents and friends, but we are doing more invisible work than ever before. Because of that, we have been dealing with so much burnout that impacts our physical health. Without that awareness, we’re not able to have the emotional self-efficacy that we need to make changes in our lives.”
Tina Sarkisyan: “It’s important for women to learn about body positivity when we’re younger, especially with AI and technology moving so fast. Education is empowering. I encourage young people to check their AMH levels. A 21-year-old who checks their AMH can plan and think about fertility preservation. You have more choices at a younger age. These days, we have technology with chromosomal analysis and AI scanning embryos, and we do things that we couldn’t five years ago. You still have choices at 40, but the most important thing is to slow down the conversation. As a practitioner, I provide truthful answers to things that may be misinformed through the different social media platforms. I have a responsibility to share accurate information.”
