Body Positivity and Diet Culture
Diet Culture is a term that is getting thrown around a lot but sometimes it can be confusing where to draw the line. So let’s talk about “Diet Culture” a little
Diet Culture does not have a SOLID definition and can probably be more thought of as a cloud with many different concepts inside of it.
Examples:
Overt / Clear Case: Intentional dieting for weight loss
Covert / A little less obvious: Only eat organic foods or else your health will suffer
Eating organic food does not necessarily sound like something inappropriate to suggest. However, if we break down the statement there are a few things that stick out.
Not everyone can afford to access organic foods. A lot of times they cost more money or are located in areas experiencing food apartheid.
The idea that what you eat controls your health is ableist and not correct. Some people are born with health issues or genetically predisposed to them. In some cases, eating a certain way may help lessen the symptoms but in other cases, poor health is inevitable.
Christy Harrison has a more concise list of ideas around Diet Culture on her page.
Anti-Diet Movement
The Anti-Diet movement, on a very surface level, is trying to discourage people from dieting or engaging in other behaviors that can be harmful. While diets are often packaged as a healthy, health promoting behavior, they overwhelmingly fail to provide long term results and can often lead to a lifetime of unhealthy habits and body image. Anti-Diet is not meant to shame the dieter, but more the promotion of diets. You are not a bad person if you have dieted or you are still dieting. Companies spend billions each year to keep you trying different diets. It is not your fault. The movement is really trying to help people break those cycles and create a more harmonious relationship with their bodies, regardless of size.
What about Diet Culture and Body Positivity?
These two are often seen together, so I figured we could talk about both.
Body positivity is actually a movement started by and for folks in marginalized bodies. People who are visibly fat. People who are disabled. People who are Black and Brown. It was really meant to address issues of representation and the right to exist in the body you are in.
My friend Chrissy King posted about this in a piece for Shape Magazine. She interviewed me and several other folks for the piece and it may help explain more on the connection between Diet Culture and race.
These days, you would be less likely to think of body positivity as a movement towards liberation and more likely to connect it with women in their underwear showing their stretch marks. While I have ZERO issue with a woman in her underwear showing off her stretch marks, it completely reduces a movement meant to liberate people in marginalized bodies down to a “feel good about yourself” instagram post. These two things are not the same.
While a socially acceptable, young, beautiful, fairly trim, (more often than not white) woman talking about her body struggles does not hurt me, it does not serve to further body liberation and reduce the stigma around fat bodies (fatphobia).
BECAUSE of Diet Culture, certain bodies are prioritized and held up as a standard, even within a movement that is supposed to be accepting to all bodies. When thin, white women occupy the main stage of body positivity, it is because Diet Culture holds them up.
What can you do?
If you are someone in a traditionally marginalized body, you have the right to exist. If you want to tell your story and show up, absolutely do that! Do not settle for “exposure” or “collaborations” without compensation and proper credit. You deserve to be featured and PAID! Many times, companies and creators are looking to boost their diversity without actually investing in diverse people. Protect your energy. You do not need to be palatable to be worthy.
If you are someone who has a “socially acceptable” body (thin, white, able bodied) , you can create space for people who are in marginalized bodies. Sometimes it feels like you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. That is not the case here. Share the space, refer to people who inspire you (and we know you are inspired because this movement was not created by someone who looks like you), learn the history behind diet culture and body positivity.
Taking Steps towards Ditching Diet Culture
Stop talking about dieting and weight loss
Start examining your ideas around “good” and “bad” food
If you track food, try not tracking for one meal
Listen to fat people!
Buy clothes that fit you, regardless of the size
Take off your fitness tracker or watch
Check out some podcasts (Food Heaven, Break the Diet Cycle, Train Happy, Food Psych)
Start examining your ideas around “good” and “bad” bodies
Follow diverse creators, not just ones who you see yourself in
Start investing in size inclusive brands, no matter what size you wear
Learn more about fatphobia, ableism, and classism