Modern culture is brimming with diet culture and toxic ideals surrounding body image, an issue that only seems to be exacerbated by the presence of social media. From subconscious messages posted on the front page covers of the latest Victoria’s Secret magazine to the not-so-subtle comments made by your grandmother at Christmas dinner, the idea that thinness equates to worth seems to be all around us. These ever-present ideals evoke unrealistic standards, dehumanizing the human body and experience while simultaneously promoting dangerous weight loss behaviors. Eating Disorders are on the rise with around 28.8 million diagnoses in the United States alone. Even more shockingly, a study conducted by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders revealed that a whopping 57% of adolescent girls engage in disordered eating behaviors. In a world in which it’s nearly impossible to fully escape the influence of diet culture and unattainable body standards, it is up to us to try our best to spread positivity and avoid further dissemination of eating disorder enforcing ideals, whether that be for the sake of our friends and family, or our own.Â
Remaining Aware of Comments:
ICYMI, some comments, despite their perceived innocence, have the power to alter a person’s entire sense of self-perception. Do you remember that one really mean thing your elementary school classmate said about you and you’ve been self-conscious about it ever since? Maybe it was your smile or your laugh. Maybe they said your nose looked “unique” or you “ran funny”. Whatever it was, don’t you still think about it every once in a while? The thought of self-doubt like an annoying fly buzzing around your face. My point is that words matter, often much more than we tend to realize and it is vitally important to remember that your words have the ability to stick with someone long after they leave your mouth. With this idea in mind, let’s delve into some of the most common comments from the world of diet culture that seem to have infiltrated our daily vocabulary.Â
Letting Go of Labeling Foods:
One of the most common diet culture ideas is the labeling of foods as “good” or “bad”. From as early as elementary school, we are taught to avoid “junk food” because it’s “bad for you”. While these comments are rooted in good health-centered intentions, they unintentionally assign a moral value to food. In the mind’s of young impressionable kids (and even subconsciously in the mind’s of rational adults) this label associates the food we eat with the moral standing of our character (think of the common idiom “you are what you eat”). This labeling of food as “bad” evokes feelings of guilt, shame, and embarrassment whenever we consume anything other than a dressing-less salad, which ultimately has more detrimental health effects than if we had simply added the ranch.Â
Whenever this argument is presented, there is the obvious dissenter who claims that intuitive eaters are promoting the use of “unhealthy” and “excessive” diets. In reality however, this could not be farther from the truth. Instead, intuitive eating promotes listening to and trusting the human body’s instincts in order to obtain a healthy lifestyle that is sustainable to both psychological and physical well-being.Â
Avoid Talking About Other’s Bodies (and You’re Own!):
Another common experience in today’s day and age is people commenting on other people’s bodies. Whether this is explicitly rude in making fun of someone’s weight or body composition, or as innocent as complimenting a friend, body-talk is all too common in modern society. For the purposes of this article, we’re going to focus on the unsuspectingly harmful comments, one of the most common being, “OMG you look so good!” in response to noticing another person’s weight loss.Â
On the surface, this may seem harmlessly kind like a passing compliment. And while this may be true in some cases, in other instances, you may be inadvertently commenting on the symptoms of physical or mental illness. You may be calling to attention another’s deeply rooted insecurity, or fueling an eating disorder. Instead of praising someone for their body and appearance, consider commending them for their personality, kindness, and positive character. Not only do these comments have less potential to be harmful, they are also much more impactful and will leave a long-lasting impression on the receiver.Â
For some, the trouble lies not in refraining from commenting on others’ bodies, but from commenting on their own. What many people fail to realize is that by engaging in “body-checking” behaviors and self-objectification, they are contributing to and further developing the diet culture narrative. This is not to say that one should feel guilty for their insecurities. Rather, it is a reminder to be mindful of your self-talk and incentivize you to challenge your negative self-image if not for your own sake than for others.Â
Challenge Others Toxic Beliefs:
Arguably, the most important step in creating a welcoming and inclusive college environment is actively challenging other people’s toxic beliefs and statements. Contrary to popular belief, this does not have to be done in a confrontational or aggressive manner and it does not have to cause conflict. Instead, statements can be subtly questioned and brought to attention even if done in a humorous, kind hearted manner.Â
All of this being said, while this process is one of the most important factors in the process, it also tends to be the most difficult for the majority of people. While I encourage you to think about what it would be like for you to stand up for your morals and beliefs, I also understand it is unrealistic to assume that challenging every instance of negative diet-culture is largely impossible. This should not be your goal—instead you should aim to do all that you can while still feeling comfortable and confident in yourself to take small steps in erasing the toxic western body and food ideals that currently plague our college campuses.Â