Everything you need to know about Diet Culture

I promised you a little bit while ago, that I would start uploading guest posts as it’s been one of monthly goals for a few months now. I asked on my social media platforms if anyone would like to guest post on my blog and I’ve got a few responses back.

The first guest post post of 2020 comes from; Charlotte Smith who is a British blogger and content creator for Take a Paws. Her platforms cover lifestyle, food and travel, as well as disordered eating and diet culture. 

Today, I want to give you a little FAQ about Diet Culture. What it is, what it does and how you can avoid it. Diet culture is everywhere but exposing it and rejecting it is key to bringing it down and saving future generations from its harmful effects. 

What is Diet Culture?

Diet Culture is the term given to the diet industry and the influencers and media campaigns who support it. 

What does Diet Culture do?

It encourages a way of life that is harmful to our relationship with food and our bodies. It glorifies the idea that weight loss will lead to happiness and it exploits our subsequent desire from this. 

How does Diet Culture do this?

Diet Culture preys on our low body image and offers us a fad fix at a price. When that doesn’t work, it catches us in our hour of need, and it offers us something new. Because diets don’t work, this cycle of low body image and dieting continues. 

What is an example of Diet Culture?

Diet Culture is found in weight-loss programs. It is found in meal replacement products. Diet Culture is also found in “Clean Eating”. There are many ways in which Diet Culture can manifest itself.

How can I identify a product of Diet Culture?

Ask yourself if the product is designed to encourage body ideals. Does the product make you feel like you need to change yourself in order to be something else? Do you feel unworthy without this product? If the answer is yes, then the product is promoting Diet Culture. 

How can I avoid Diet Culture?

Although Diet Culture is very evasive in our lives, there are things that you can do to reduce the impact that Diet Culture has. 

1. Unfollow social media accounts that promote Diet Culture or make you feel unworthy and instead, follow social media accounts that promote body positivity and intuitive eating. 

2. Ask friends to respect that you are moving your life into a diet-free direction and politely request that they no longer discuss their latest diets with you.

3. Practise listening to your body when eating and exercising. Use your intuition to feel when you are hungry, full, energised or tired. 

4. Refrain from tracking your body with weighing scales or tape measure. Your body fluctuates naturally and this is okay. 

 

What can I expect from a lifestyle without Diet Culture?

Your life will most likely be very full. Gone are the days when you have to miss out at social gatherings because you’re counting calories. Enjoy that ice cream in summer. A rejection of Diet Culture combined with engagement in body positivity can encourage improved self-esteem and body image (which overall is likely to improve your general mood too!)

I hope you have found this post useful in learning more about Diet Culture. We should all be actively seeking to expose Diet Culture for what it truly is in order to rebuild our relationships with ourselves and food. 

Let me if you’ve had any experiences with Diet Culture. How is your relationship with your body?

Thank you so much for reading!

 If you would like to follow charlotte from @takeapawsblog I highly recommend that you go and give her a follow using the links below 💗

Guest post by Charlotte Smith MBPsS

Blog – http://www.takeapawsblog.com

Twitter – www.twitter.com/takeapawsblog

Pinterest – www.pinterest.com/takeapawsblog

Instagram – www.instagram.com/takeapawsblog

Youtube: Take a Paws Vlogs – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChO2awVgqEoLwLFu9Jd7kkA

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