Do you talk in absolutes like I ‘never’ or I ‘always’? This can encourage feelings of guilt and shame when you do or don’t have those foods on a regular basis which is an example of diet culture messaging (you’re lesser than if you don’t _). There are a few different levels to this, but we’ll start with the way that you talk about food. Diet Culture: 5 Ways To Overcome Diet Culture For Sustainable Change 1. Diet culture is a problem because it teaches us that our bodies are bad, that there’s something wrong with us, that food is the enemy, that overexercising and restricting calories are the way to go, and that we have to cut out the food, drink, and people/activities that we love in pursuit of being socially accepted. In fact, they’re in the palm of your hand, with every single media outlet, digital advertising, commercials, movies, and so on. For younger, up and coming generations, these messages are just about EVERYWHERE. To make matters worse, it’s not just our moms, the magazine covers, or the billboards telling us to contribute and to be a part of diet culture anymore. It’s wrapped up in fat phobia, fear of gaining weight, fear of gaining muscle, fear of getting bulky, fear of wiggling, having stretch marks, or a normal human body that moves with you when you move. It lies to people, makes them feel inadequate, and makes money preying on their insecurities, imperfections, and how they’re different from one another. The problem with diet culture, if you haven’t picked that out yourself just yet, is that it hurts people. There’s no actual definition of it, but more of an entire belief system that worships and falls to its knees in the face of thin, elite, moral virtue tied to disproportionate health and beauty standards. From the fit chick on the Bud Light commercial running through the streets hitting that post workout light beer to the elitist eaters on social media touting that you’re not healthy if you eat anything with any artificial anything, any non-organic food, or don’t buy the most expensive clothes from the trendiest stores, they all promote what is called diet culture. Social status, image, and social media are all wrapped up in this bundle. What Is Diet Cultureĭiet culture is this Westernized idea that we have to restrict food, pursue thinness, that our beauty isn’t defined by who we are by what we look like, fitting into societal norms and that you can only be accepted if you ‘fit the box’. We’re going to get real deep in understanding what diet culture is so that you can call it out when you see it as well as give you 5 things to get behind and start believing in, instead. It’s an entire belief system that’s ruining your life, your relationship with your body, your morality, and belief about what is your definition of ‘healthy’. In fact, it goes so deep that it is rooted in the ways we’ve been told, marketed, and sold to think about ourselves, our bodies, our health, the food we eat (and don’t eat), all or nothing thinking, and more. While diet culture doesn't just include fad diets and weight loss hacks, and purported influencers, diet culture goes a whole lot deeper. Diet culture is one of the biggest topics I like to myth bust when working with clients as a nutritionist.
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