Anti-Diet, Health at Every Size? What Does All of This Mean?
Understanding the Culture Behind Fatphobia.
The Ancient View: Varying Attitudes Towards Body Size
Fatphobia, the fear and stigmatization of obesity, is a pervasive issue in modern society. It's not just a social or cultural problem; it's deeply rooted in history, with complex origins and evolution. In ancient times, attitudes towards body size varied significantly across cultures. In Ancient Greece, for instance, ideals of physical beauty were often associated with slenderness, especially for women. Hippocrates was of significant influence during this time period and went so far as to declare fatness a disease. However, in other ancient societies like Egypt, larger bodies were often associated with wealth, fertility, and prosperity. Variation in attitudes indicates that fatphobia is not a universal constant but rather a socially constructed phenomenon. After the fall of the Roman Empire, diet culture fell silent as well.
The Middle Ages: A Shift in Perspective
During the Middle Ages in Europe, the narrative began to shift. The rise of Christian influence brought with it the notion of gluttony as a sin. Consequently, overeating and obesity began to be morally condemned. This period marked the beginning of a more widespread stigmatization of larger body sizes, linking them to a lack of self-control and moral failing.
The Renaissance: Celebrating Curves
The Renaissance period saw a resurgence of appreciation for fuller figures, at least in the realm of art and beauty. Artists like Rubens celebrated curvaceous bodies in their paintings, indicating a societal shift back towards accepting and even idealizing larger body sizes. This period reminds us that cultural perceptions of body size are fluid and can change significantly over time.
The Industrial Revolution: The Emergence of Modern Fatphobia
The Industrial Revolution brought about significant changes in lifestyle and food availability. With these changes, the perception of body size began to evolve yet again. As food scarcity became less of an issue, at least in the Western world, being thin started to be associated with self-discipline and moral superiority. Conversely, being overweight began to be seen as a sign of laziness or lack of self-restraint. The emergence of industrial equipment, which mass produced ready-made garments, was on the rise, and the time of clothes made for and tailored to the body was falling to the wayside.
The 20th Century: Diet Culture and Health Concerns
In the 20th century, particularly post-World War II, the diet and fitness industries began to flourish. This period saw the rise of what we now recognize as modern diet culture. Fatphobia became increasingly medicalized, with overweight and obesity being linked to health risks and diseases. This era cemented the association of thinness with health and desirability, further entrenching fatphobic attitudes in society.
The Influence of Politicians on Diet Culture
The creation and perpetuation of diet culture is a multifaceted phenomenon, significantly influenced by the interplay of political forces, pharmaceutical companies, and governmental policies. One of the key tools in this development has been the Body Mass Index (BMI), a metric initially designed for population studies, not individual health assessment. Politicians and government health agencies have often used BMI as a simplistic measure to define and categorize obesity, despite several flaws in what it was intended to study, how it was developed, and how it is used. This has led to a widespread, oversimplified focus on weight as the primary indicator of health.
Pharmaceutical companies have capitalized on this weight-centric culture by developing and marketing weight loss drugs, promising quick solutions to a problem framed by these BMI standards. The financial incentives are substantial, as both politicians and pharmaceuticals benefit from perpetuating a narrative that prioritizes thinness and weight loss. This narrative drives public health policies and funding, influencing research directions and healthcare practices, and perpetuates a cycle where diet culture remains both a profitable industry and a politically advantageous tool.
The diet culture that was created over time has only shifted to include slimmer ideals of what beauty looks like. Often these beauty ideals are unattainable by most of the population, but pushed as a necessity for all to achieve. It’s important to recognize that this is a small taste of the sexism, racism, and classism diet culture is rooted in. Several of the resources listed below provide a more in-depth analysis of the roots of diet culture. It’s time we stop giving power to pharmaceutical companies and politicians. Let’s end the weight stigma.
Anti-Diet Work and Empowering Health at All Sizes
Are you familiar with the concepts of "anti-diet" or "health at every size"? These are philosophies frequently employed in nutrition counseling. In a nutshell, "anti-diet" involves steering clear of food trends and deceptive information that unfairly demonizes specific food groups, often perpetuating a dichotomy of "good" and "bad" foods. On the other hand, "health at every size" advocates for a mindset that disassociates one's physical appearance from their overall health, acknowledging that individuals can maintain health across a spectrum of body types. Here are some key aspects of each of these philosophies.
Rejecting Diet Culture:
The anti-diet movement challenges the prevailing diet culture that promotes restrictive eating, calorie counting, and the pursuit of a specific body shape.
It contends that diets often lead to cyclical patterns of weight loss and gain, perpetuating a harmful cycle of guilt and frustration.
Embracing Intuitive Eating:
A pivotal aspect of the Anti-Diet philosophy is the promotion of intuitive eating, encouraging individuals to attune to their bodies' hunger and fullness cues.
The model of intuitive eating shifts the focus from weight loss to overall well-being, promoting a sustainable and balanced approach to nutrition.
Contrary to popular belief, intuitive eating doesn't mean eating anything any time of day, it encourages listening to your body’s desire for foods like sweets and honoring its needs for foods like fruits and vegetables
Dispelling the Weight-Centric Approach:
The Anti-Diet movement challenges the conventional belief that weight is the sole indicator of health.
Dispelling the weight-centric approach means understanding there is more to health than what we can see on the surface.
Decoupling Health from Weight:
HAES challenges the assumption that thinness equates to health, emphasizing that health is a complex and multifaceted concept.
Promotes the idea that individuals of all sizes can pursue health and well-being without focusing on weight loss.
Fostering Inclusive Healthcare:
Advocates for healthcare that is free from weight bias and discrimination.
Encourages healthcare professionals to focus on holistic well-being and provide compassionate care, irrespective of a person's size.
Emphasizing Sustainable Habits:
Shifts the focus from achieving a specific weight to adopting sustainable lifestyle habits that contribute to overall health.
Recognizes that health is a personal journey and that one-size-fits-all approaches may not be effective or beneficial for everyone.
Being anti-diet and embracing Health at Every Size is about fostering a positive relationship with food, embracing diverse body types, and prioritizing holistic well-being over societal beauty standards. These movements challenge the status quo, encouraging individuals to redefine their understanding of health and embrace a more inclusive and compassionate approach to self-care. By rejecting diet culture and promoting body positivity, we can create a world where everyone feels empowered and deserving of respect, regardless of their size or shape.
Resources:
Harrison, C. (2019). Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating. Little, Brown Spark.
Christopoulou-Aletra, H., & Papavramidou, N. (2004). Methods used by the hippocratic physicians for weight reduction. World journal of surgery, 28(5), 513–517. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-004-7373-9
Association for Size Diversity and Health. (n.d.). Health at Every Size (HAES) approach. https://asdah.org/health-at-every-size-haes-approach/
Atherton, E. (2021). Moralizing Hunger: Cultural Fatphobia and the Moral Language of Contemporary Diet Culture. Feminist Philosophy Quarterly, 7(3). Retrieved from https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fpq/article/view/10836