Let me start off by saying: Your weight does not define your worth.
You don’t need to shrink yourself to be worthy. Period.
I’ve seen more ads than I’d like to the past few weeks telling me how I can lose weight for a great 2021 “because COVID-nineteen… amiright?”
As a dietitian, I have seen from a unique perspective how quarantining has affected people’s eating patterns.
Some people are eating more because they’re bored and home all the time and the food is there. Maybe they’re less active because their gym closed, or they would use the childcare at their gym and now their young kids are always around, so the parent can’t dedicate specific time to exercise.
Events this year have been largely out of our control – and that is scary. But, please don’t let some company convince you that it has the “cure” to the weight that ails you.
No method of weight loss…
(whether we’re talking fad diets, “lifestyle changes” akin to Whole 30, etc, prescription meds, or over-the-counter supplements) have shown that they are able to provide lasting weight change (and do so safely) for 95-98% of people by the 2-5 year mark. Of those 2-5%, there is generally no follow up to see how many of those individuals have developed eating disorders.
On these ads, some will list a (woman’s) accomplishments, and then add that now she’s smaller… like that somehow makes her accomplishments more wonderful? It wasn’t enough to be a mom and a lawyer, and active in the community, and take in orphaned kittens, but now that she’s smaller – well, hot dog! Now we can really see her worth as a person.
Not only is this damaging to those in larger bodies who are seeing these ads (“I’m not worthy” “My body is someone’s nightmare”) – but it also reinforces weight stigma (“if someone has a larger body, it’s their fault for not taking action” “Fatter people are worth less than skinny people”), which is harmful, not just in interpersonal situations, but also in schools, on the job, and also more harmful to women specifically.
I want people to be healthy!
Health =/= weight. If a supplement would result in lasting body composition or weight changes, there would be research in peer-reviewed medical journals. Also, is someone really improving their health if they eat only bacon and chocolate cake every day, with no fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grains, etc…; if they are sedentary (by choice) – but their weight goes down because of a supplement? I don’t think so.
If health is your goal, please – please – make responsible changes. If you’re having trouble getting started, seek out a professional. Someone who will talk with you about your life, your goals, your difficult areas, foods you like – someone who will see YOU as a person, and not just your weight or insecurities.
If you are struggling with your eating patterns or health concerns, please reach out or schedule an appointment.
You are not alone.
Here are some resources on this topic:
Podcasts:
- Maintenance Phase https://podcasts.apple.com/…/maintenance…/id1535408667
- Body Kindness https://www.bodykindnessbook.com/podcast/
- Food Psych https://christyharrison.com/foodpsych
- The Full Bloom Podcast https://www.fullbloomproject.com/podcast
- Happy as a Mother, specifically episode 46 https://happyasamother.co/…/learning-to-love-your…/
Books:
- Pursing Perfection by Margo Maine and Joe Kelly https://www.amazon.com/Pursuing-Perfection…/dp/1138890723
- Body Kindness by Rebecca Scritchfield https://www.amazon.com/Body-Kindness…/dp/0761187294
- Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison https://christyharrison.com/book-anti-diet-intuitive…
- Body Positive Power by Megan Jayne Crabbe https://www.amazon.com/Body-Positive-Power…/dp/158005823X
- Body Respect by Lindo Bacon and Lucy Aphramor https://www.amazon.com/Body-Respect…/dp/1940363195