The Toxicity of Modern Diet Culture

Written by Mae

Graphics by Jasmine Flora

CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses eating disorders

Diet culture is everywhere. Even in a world where we’re finally trying to make some big changes, recognizing that we need to focus on loving and accepting ourselves, not trying to change or pursue an idea of ‘perfection’ which actually doesn’t exist, we’re still immersed in this damaging culture. It’s become a chameleon; working its way into our everyday lives, hiding behind the term ‘lifestyle’ and targeting us all to feel like our bodies are wrong in some way. Aspects of our life as subtle as the underwear we buy, ‘shaping’ or ‘sculpting’, crushing our organs to create the illusion of a flat stomach. Clothing companies will stock a very limited range of smaller sizes. We're being forced to believe that only one body type is attractive or acceptable in society and that thinness = health, without considering the consequences.

After surviving a pandemic that has turned our whole lives upside down, you’d think that we’d start to focus more on truly living and experiencing life. Yet, the first thing I saw when I refreshed my Facebook page after our lockdown was announced to be lifting was a status from someone saying “realizing I have to get rid of my lockdown weight gain before people see me again”. It had tens of thousands of shares. Instead of being excited to reunite with our loved ones, to socialize again, and enjoy the world restoring a sense of normality, people are still more worried about the size of their waistline.

One of the most fascinating qualities of our species is that each of us are so unique. The diversity in our skin tones, hair color, skills, personalities and even our one of a kind fingerprints makes us all individuals. So why are we driven to believe that our bodies should all look the same?

The answer is pretty simple… it’s profit.

The puppet masters of our diet culture are an industry; thousands of businesses profiting from our insecurities, the very ones that they have contributed towards. It’s actually proven that over 95% of people will end up ‘failing’ their diet. Despite what they will claim, these businesses don’t actually want anyone to succeed – how would they make any more money?

Behaviors that are promoted in the diet industry:

1. Restricting your food intake 

2. Forcing yourself to exercise 

3. Suppressing and/or ignoring hunger 

4. Focusing on numbers

These are all things that eating disorder sufferers struggle with – eating disorders kill people and still, these are behaviors that are allowed to be advertised in our mainstream media, to vulnerable people of all ages.

I can’t even describe the helplessness I feel every time I’m sat watching a TV program and an advert for yet another diet or weight loss company takes over the screen. Knowing how many other people will also be watching, thinking about how much they despise their own bodies, that they should start being ‘healthier’. I think about how many teenagers will refuse their dessert and search up how many calories were in their sandwich at lunch, something seemingly so harmless can spiral into a disorder that has a 20% chance of ending their lives. 

The negative effects of dieting/restricting:

- Lowers self-esteem 

- Lack of energy/enjoyment 

- Affects your social life

- Preoccupation with food

- Development of an eating disorder 

- Lack of vital nutrients

- Binge-restrict cycles 

We need to abolish the idea that food has a moral value. It’s just food. Your body will see it as the fuel it needs to keep your body functioning, it doesn’t care whether that is a slice of wholemeal sourdough avocado toast or a slice of white bread with butter and jam. Our own bodies know what they need more than anyone and you’ll gain much more of a mental weight getting sucked into the toxicity of diet culture than you ever will by listening to your own body.

Because the problem is not with our bodies – the problem is our culture.

What should be promoted:

- A varied, balanced diet that includes an adequate amount of every food group. Nothing should be off-limits.

- Exercising in a way that you find enjoyable and beneficial for your mental and physical being. Engaging with movement that feels right for your own body, doesn’t exceed your limits, and allowing yourself to rest when that feels right too. 

- Seeing food as just food and not numbers, macros, calories, grams, percentages, etc., or labeling anything as ‘good’ and ‘bad’.

- Listening to hunger cues, not trying to artificially suppress them. The best way to suppress genuine hunger is to actually eat something…

- Making peace with the bodies we have and finding a lifestyle that keeps us maintaining our own health and happiness.

If you deny your body what it’s asking for or what it needs, it won’t trust you. You can’t find peace in restricting food in a way that isn’t right for you or your body. The restriction won’t stop at the kitchen table, it will spill out into every aspect of your life. I’ve spent over half of my life trying to shrink myself under the illusion that it would somehow one day make me happier and it never did. Now I know that it never will. Fitting the mold of what our society tells us is the ‘right’ way to look will never make you happy. You aren’t going to suddenly wake up one day and love yourself, it’s a process, and it starts with accepting that you are your own unique person that deserves to not fight against your own biology to look a way that someone else has told you to.

Don’t be at war with your body, it’s a battle that will never come to an end. Learn to listen, trust and accept it. 

If you or anyone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, there are resources that can help:

(UK) www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

(US) www.eatingdisorderhope.com