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Beyond the Stage: Interdisciplinary Care for the Mental, Nutritional, and Physical Well-Being of Performing Artists

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

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Proficiency: Intermediate knowledge/experience

Track: Sports, Fitness and Performance

CPE: 1.5

Description

Employing an interdisciplinary approach is crucial in addressing the unique nutritional, physical, and mental health needs of performing artists. This session will provide insights into evidence-based practices tailored to the intense physical demands, long hours, and mental stress that artists (with a focus on dance, musical theater, and pop artists) face from adolescence to adulthood.

Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between nutrition, mental health, and rehabilitation. Practical techniques for maintaining a healthy relationship with food and body image will also be highlighted, alongside discussions on common psychological challenges such as fame, performance anxiety, perfectionism, and the impact of physical injuries, including bone health, and strategies to support dancers for career longevity. As a team, the session will also address cultural-specific recommendations across diverse performing arts communities.

Attendees will acquire valuable knowledge of empirically supported interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for performance anxiety, promoting resilience, and healthy coping strategies. The session will underscore the importance of collaboration among physical therapists, dietitians, mental health professionals, and other medical specialists. Additionally, we will explore ways to build partnerships with performing arts organizations and develop networks to create a meaningful impact within the performing arts community.

Planned with the Sports and Human Performance Nutrition DPG

Learning Objectives

  • Develop a comprehensive strategy that integrates nutrition, mental health, and rehabilitation to optimize the performance and health of performing artists.
  • Identify specific psychological challenges faced by performing artists, including body image issues, fame, performance anxiety, perfectionism, and the mental health impact of physical injuries.
  • Explore practical techniques and strategies to support performing artists in maintaining a healthy relationship with food and body image.

Performance Indicators

  • 10.6.3 Applies counseling principles and evidence-based practice when providing individual or group education.
  • 9.3.4 Assesses clients’ emotions toward nutrition-related statements or phenomenon, body image/preoccupation with food and weight, and readiness to change nutrition related behaviors.
  • 5.2.8 Evaluates the effectiveness of plans and decisions and makes adjustments when needed.

Speakers

  • Yasi Ansari photo

    Yasi Ansari

    Founder and Owner, Yasi Ansari Nutrition, LLC

    Yasi Ansari is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics based in Los Angeles, CA. She owns Yasi Ansari Nutrition, LLC, a consulting practice specializing in nutrition for athletic performance and nutrition therapy for individuals with eating disorders and disordered eating. Yasi helps competitive athletes and performing artists improve their relationship with food while providing guidance that supports meeting the nutritional demands of their sport. In addition, Yasi works with adolescents diagnosed with eating disorders at the Medical Stabilization Program at UCLA Health Santa Monica Medical Center. Yasi served as a National Media Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics from 2019 to 2025. Her expertise has been featured in Dance Magazine, Women’s Health, Women’s Running, SHAPE, SELF, and more. She currently serves as Chair of the Academy’s Sports and Human Performance Nutrition (SHPN) dietetic practice group. Yasi also collaborates with the Athletes and the Arts initiative and co-hosts the Athletes and the Arts podcast, which raises awareness about the health needs of performing artists. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s degree from California State University, Northridge. Her career reflects a deep commitment to improving the health and well-being of athletes and performers through nutrition.
  • Michael Wetter photo

    Michael Wetter

    Owner and Founder, Wetter Psychological Services, A Professional Corporation

    Dr. Michael G. Wetter, PsyD, ABPP, FAACP, founder of Wetter Psychological Services, is a distinguished clinical psychologist with over 30 years of experience specializing in adolescent and adult populations. Dr. Wetter is a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology, board certified in clinical psychology. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology, an honor that recognizes significant contributions to the field and professional distinction in clinical psychology. Known for his engaging, direct, and effective approach, Dr. Wetter maintains an exclusive private practice and serves as Director of Psychology in Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at UCLA Medical Center. His past leadership roles have included Division Chief of Adult Psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente and Associate Director of Psychology in General Surgery at Cedars-Sinai. Dr. Wetter has written two impactful books, Earn It and What Went Right, focusing on personal growth and positive thinking. A sought-after speaker, he frequently lectures on psychological well-being and mental health strategies. Recently featured in Netflix’s documentary Pop Star Academy, Dr. Wetter shared his expertise on mental health challenges in the entertainment industry. Dr. Wetter’s influence spans media, academia, and clinical practice. He has additionally served as a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Psychology and consulted for Universal Music Group.. His extensive career reflects a deep commitment to mental health, advancing psychology, and mentoring the next generation of professionals, solidifying him as a leader in the field.
  • Leada Malek photo

    Leada Malek

    Director of Sports, Agile Physical Therapy

    Leada Malek is a Doctor of Physical Therapy based in San Francisco, California, specializing in sports physical therapy for active individuals and athletes, including professionals in sports and dance. She is the Director of Sports at Agile Physical Therapy and is an adjunct professor at Samuel Merritt University. Malek is a board-certified sports clinical specialist and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She is the author of Science of Stretch (2023). Her expertise has been featured in leading publications such as U.S. News, Oxygen, Women’s Health, and TIME, and she serves on the expert advisory board for ELLE Magazine. Malek is actively involved with the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy and has participated as an APTA panelist on the intersection of social media and physical therapy. She is an advocate for women in girls in sports and is passionate about topics including mental health and injury recovery, ACL rehabilitation, bone stress injuries, and relative energy deficiency in sport.

Moderator

  • Leslie Bonci photo

    Leslie Bonci

    Founder, Active Eating Advice by Leslie Bonci, Inc

    Leslie J. Bonci, MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN, FAND is a registered dietitian and sports dietitian. She owns Active Eating Advice, a nutrition consulting company, and is a co-founder of Performance365, a sports nutrition consulting company. She was the sports nutrition consultant for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. Performance 365 provides sports nutrition services for universities, industry, and professional sports teams. She is the author of Sport Nutrition for Coaches and the American Dietetic Association Guide to Better Digestion and co-author of Run Your Butt Off, Walk Your Butt Off, the Active Calorie Diet and Bike Your Butt Off. She has authored numerous chapters for sports medicine and sports nutrition manuals. Leslie provides nutrition expertise for television, radio, podcast and print interviews. Leslie teaches in the Physical Therapy program at Pitt and the Athletic training program at Duquesne University. Leslie received her undergraduate degree in Biopsychology from Vassar College, her Masters’ in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh and completed her dietetic internship at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. She is a past Academy spokesperson and past chair of SHPN and NEP and a 2021 recipient of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Medallion Award.

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