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Regrettably, we inhabit a society fixated on body aesthetics. This societal pressure, backed by a staggering $72 billion industry, can make you feel like you're constantly under the microscope, needing to shed those extra pounds.
There are millions of jobs on the line and billions of dollars at work with the singular goal of making you feel as though you need to lose weight - but should you be dedicating all that energy to believing you need to change yourself? If you are on a weight-loss journey, are you going about it correctly? Are you obsessed with counting calories and dieting? If so, it’s time to step toward healing your relationship with food because the size of your body has nothing to do with your worth...
Dieting has been a source of frustration and shame for many, leading to a negative relationship with food and our bodies. It's important to remember that food intake isn't the sole determinant of our weight. In a society that often equates weight with worth, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits and negative thought patterns about food and our bodies.
Food's number one use is nourishing our bodies, but it's also much more. It's time to open your mind and change your view of food, to see it in a new light, and to appreciate its many facets. Change starts by taking one step at a time towards feeling better about yourself, joining the change, and resetting your mindset concerning what food is and isn't. Genuinely learn more about your relationship with food and your body.
We need to acknowledge that what we are doing isn't working; throwing more "tools" like GLP-1s, weight loss medication, or surgeries isn't changing the narrative or addressing the person as a whole person with emotions, nor is it changing the person's mindset but adding to the negativity.
This is because diets and these "tools" do NOT work for the long haul-
Long-term research shows that 97% of intentional weight loss attempts lead to weight regain and/or disordered eating behaviors within five years that affect our physical and mental functions.
We need to start looking at a change in what we are doing and change the narrative that our body size does NOT equal our worth -
Neither does your productivity nor your abilities, but that’s a conversation for another time- remember, body acceptance provides awareness, motivation, and confidence - your body deserves compassion, grace, and kindness.
And we need to stop villainizing food as the enemy -
Food is for nourishment and fuel, allowing you to connect with others in fun and creative ways. It should be neutral without emotions (e.g., guilt, shame, sadness, stress, boredom).
As a Clinical Nutritionist (CNS, LDN), I’ve witnessed a growing awareness of the harm perpetuated by the diet industry and its culture. Hence, empowering people to develop a positive relationship with food is essential while building skills to be healthy and happy in all body sizes—in harmony with our mental and physical health.