Defining Diet Culture
I get asked this a lot...
"You're a dietitian that doesn't believe in diets…how does that even work??"
"What does anti-diet even mean??"
Being an anti-diet dietitian essentially means that I am a dietitian against diet-culture.
Diet culture is defined as a "moral hierarchy of bodies fueled by health myths”. (1)
Worships thinness
Thinness = health, moral virtue
Promotes weight loss as a means of attaining higher status
Demonizes certain foods, making you feel "bad" for eating them
Discriminates against those who don't match up with its' "ideal" picture of health
Diet culture isn’t just a specific diets or plan, although these things are part of diet culture.
How diet culture can show up outside of being on a diet:
Elementary school teachers telling kids that certain foods are “unhealthy” and shouldn't be eaten
Your mom's advice that losing weight might help your dating life
Eating-disorder-treatment centers putting larger-bodied individuals on restrictive diets even though that worsens their condition
Trainers trying to sell weight loss despite claiming they are "anti-diet" or "body positive"
TV commercials spewing the false narrative that weight loss prevents or cures health issues
Assumptions that larger bodies are that way due to poor lifestyle choices
At its essence, diet culture promotes:
Obsession with food and exercise
Shame about your body
Fear and anxiety about the consequences of failing to fit into an "ideal"
Disordered Eating & Eating Disorders
Diet culture is harmful.
I am a dietitian, and I do not want to cause harm.
I believe that all bodies are good bodies and all bodies are deserving of respectful care.
Therefore, I am an anti-diet dietitian.
:-) <3
Contact Me
Haleigh Sanders is an eating disorder specialized dietitian who owns Sanders Nutrition LLC. She has an in person location in Tallahassee, FL and offers virtual services across Florida, North Carolina, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
She offers individual nutrition therapy and would love to guide you to a better relationship with food. Click here to schedule a discovery call to receive more information about how her services can be of benefit to you. Also, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter and receive more free resources and information here.
