#2: Defining and Dismantling Diet Culture

Make Peace With Food

Welcome back to "Make Peace with Food," I'm your host Emily LaVoie, a certified eating psychology coach committed to breaking down the oppressive norms of diet culture and fostering a space where food is a source of joy, not guilt. Today, in episode 2, we're diving deep into the murky waters of diet culture to understand its complexity and harm it causes to our mental and physical health.

Diet culture is like water to a fish; it's all around us, shaping our thoughts and behaviors in ways we might not even realize. It worships thinness, equating it unfairly with health, and promotes weight loss as the golden ticket to higher social status. But the reality is, not only are these notions unfounded, they are also damaging and exclusive, affecting women, femmes, trans individuals, people in larger bodies, people of color, and people with disabilities most of all.

We'll unpack the four pillars of diet culture as defined by Christy Harrison—worshipping thinness, equating thinness to health, promoting weight loss for improve status, demonizing and prioritizing certain foods and eating styles—and talk about the tangible consequences these ideas have. From the way we view our bodies to the foods we label as 'good' or 'bad,' we must call out diet culture in order to never be victimized again.

Join me as we explore the emotional rollercoaster and social pressures that stem from this obsession with body size and weight, the pitfalls of intentional weight loss, and most importantly, how we can start making peace with food.

Remember, you're not alone in this journey. After the episode, head over to my website for a free 30-minute Zoom consultation where we can talk more about your personal relationship with food. And if you love what you're hearing, show your support by following or subscribing, leaving a rating and review, and consider becoming a paid supporter on Patreon to help keep our conversation going.

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