D.iet culture surrounds us and influences us all. Despite the common notion that it only affects people who watch their weight, diet culture also has an impact in general. People with a high BMI are often teased, bullied, and teased. From school to university to work, it’s common for overweight people to be labeled ‘fat’, leading to self-confidence issues among many.
A negatively distorted body image impacts one’s emotional and physical health. Christy Harrison, the author of Anti-Diet: Recover your time, money, well-being and happiness through intuitive eating, describes diet culture as a belief system that worships thinness and equates it with health and virtue. Additionally, diet culture encourages rapid weight loss and suggests maintaining a low body weight to ensure elite social status. There is also the demonization of certain foods and eating styles while elevating others. People who fail to meet such expectations or conform to the delusional image of ‘health’ perpetuated by diet culture are disrespected.
Diet culture distorts the image of food
Diet culture sees food as fuel. Based on their macronutrient content, foods are simply classified as “good” or “bad.” However, food is more than a source of energy.. It has been an integral part of celebrations and culture since ancient times. Only through food can we obtain crucial nutrients: vitamins, minerals, essential fats, antioxidants, phytonutrients, protein, and fiber. A combination of nutritious foods ensures well-being and disease prevention. Nutritional deficiency, impaired bodily functions, eating disorders, and an unhealthy relationship with food are the result of avoiding nutritious “low-calorie” foods. ‘
‘Detox’ and ‘cleanse’ after a celebration or holiday season are classic examples of foods perceived as calories only. The ‘purging’ of ‘high-fat’ and ‘high-calorie’ foods after a feast is classified as an eating disorder. It is an unscientific and dangerous process with detrimental physical and psychological effects. The focus on restrictive diets to stay healthy encourages eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Similarly, engaging in physical activity solely to burn calories or “gain” favorite foods is a poor result of diet culture.
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Psychosocial impact of dietary culture
It is critical to understand that obesity and excess weight are complex medical conditions that are not always the result of inactivity or unregulated calorie intake. You can gain weight for a variety of reasons: genetic predisposition, hormonal imbalance, medications, etc. Diet culture disregards the science behind obesity and promotes a lean body as the pinnacle of health.
A person who does not meet these standards is considered unhealthy and develops a negative body image, making self-love a difficult journey for them. For these people, weight loss is the only path to acceptance, happiness, and health. People with poor body image diet to lose weight and do not develop healthy eating habits.
Those with larger bodies, poor body image, or body dissatisfaction compare their bodies to “zero figure” celebrities who promote weight-loss diets without explaining whether the method is scientifically sound, safe, or sustainable. Unfortunately, people who fall prey to diet culture lack both self-confidence and fundamental scientific knowledge about health and wellness. They find it difficult to accept that their appearance has nothing to do with their health. Health risks increase with a poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle, and lack of physical activity, regardless of body size.
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Practice intuitive eating
Weight loss and weight control market it was valued at $192.2 billion in 2019, and is projected to hit $295.3 billion by 2027. Decades of research shows that diets don’t work in the long run. There are setbacks and disappointments. However, the ‘diet culture’ weight loss industry is not ready to give up and continues to come up with new and trendy diets without scientific backing. Even when we learn that the new diet is unsustainable, extremely rigid, lacking in essential nutrients, and can lead to regaining body weight, we still feel that it is our fault and that we are not disciplined enough. The vicious circle continues. Needless to say, the result is shame and guilt.
A combination of intuitive eating and behavior modifications can help combat the ill effects of diet culture. To avoid diet culture, avoid self-proclaimed health influencers, non-science news, and weight watch groups. Learn about essential physiological functions, nutrition, and how a balanced diet promotes good health. Research the pros and cons of the new diets before going on them.
Try some key principles of intuitive eating to get out of the diet industry trap. These principles ask you to reject the diet mentality, recognize hunger, and respond by eating nutritious foods. These principles urge you to make peace with food while developing a healthy relationship with it, challenge someone who classifies food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, stop eating when you are full, understand your satisfaction factor, face the stress without eating and finally, respect your body.
Subhasree Ray is a doctoral fellow (ketogenic diet), certified diabetes educator, and a public health and clinical nutritionist. She tweets @DrSubhasree. Views are personal.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)
