![]() ![]() “I used to be really strict about what I ate, but it just made me more obsessed with food. What to do: To shut things down without an argument, respond by making it about you, not them.Another example: At a family birthday party, your aunt (who you don’t want to get into it with) looks at your plate and says, “If I ate like that, I’d gain so much weight!”.Simply not engaging in it also saves you the brain fatigue. Why it protects you: Diet culture is so pervasive that it's become a way for people to bond, and you're pointing out that there are other ways, which can feel empowering.If you feel like being more direct, you can say something like, “I actually made a new year’s resolution to always talk about something new at parties – don’t you feel like we always talk about diets?! Have you read any good books recently?” What to do: You can change the subject, or excuse yourself to say hi to someone else.Example: At a party, a person at the finger foods table starts talking about their diet or exercise routine, and you don’t want to go there.These examples are purely to be helpful to you, if you need them. And you don’t need to say anything if you don’t feel like it! Even though you have an anti-diet mindset (or are working toward one) you don’t always have to advocate, justify your choices or even get into conversations about weight in order to be making a difference or standing up to diet culture. You’re not always going to have the "perfect" thing to say, and that is okay. Whatever your boundaries are, it's okay (and important) to assert them. The folks making assumptions about your body and what kind of a person you are based on your size - whether it's a doctor or your Aunt Sylvia, who has been dieting since she was 10 - may simply not get it.īut no matter the reason for the diet culture talk (and whether you find it annoying, hurtful or downright rude) if you don't want to engage in it, you shouldn't have to. Fatphobia - discrimination against people who weigh "too much" - is baked into our culture. One thing to remember is that we were all raised in a society that beats it into our heads that being thin makes you a better and happier person, and it takes a lot to unlearn that. They realize that rejecting diet culture-influenced comments like these are part of their road to feeling happy and building a positive relationship with food (and themselves). Many of my clients say they find such "help" downright offensive, because it implies that they should want to be different than they are, when they've already come to accept and/or love their bodies as they are. PSA: 'Have You Lost Weight?' Is Not a Compliment.Family members or close friends who say things like, "I'm just worried about your health," or "I really think you'd be so much happier if you worked out more" may think they're motivating you to change your body, without realizing that they're adding pressure that is totally unhelpful, not to mention that changing your body shouldn't be your top priority, in my opinion. This can, of course, be hard to do, especially when the comments come from people you love, who you believe truly mean well. ![]() (I actually wrote a book about it and run a group program so folks know they're not in this alone.) I'm an anti-diet dietitian, and I believe that eating intuitively and caring for your body without trying to intentionally lose weight is the best way to have a peaceful, positive relationship with food and to be your healthiest self, both physically and psychologically. You have a right to draw boundaries if it makes you feel bad or fuels disordered eating or weight obsession. For additional information visit Linking to and Using Content from MedlinePlus.Diet culture is everywhere, and one of the ickiest parts is that it seems like everyone feels they have the right to comment on your weight or your body. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited without authorization. Links to other sites are provided for information only - they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy editorial process and privacy policy. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. ![]()
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