Dieting Is Not As Good For Your Health as The Wellness Industry Claims

Feb 22

It’s tough to navigate wellness these days.

So much of what we see on social media and in marketing isn’t backed by science- and even the scientists aren’t united on Health At Every Size despite the research that shows that health conditions associated with higher weight isn’t necessarily caused by fat itself, but by the stigma higher weight individuals endure throughout their lifetimes that creates inflammation in the body. The mind and body are an ecosystem, and trauma from being in a marginalized body can show up as heart disease as well as depression.

Get Anti- Diet Culture

Because we associate lower weight with health, it’s easy to think get quick fit plans, cleanses, and detoxes are smart ideas- but did you know that not only is being drastically underweight deadlier than being drastically above your natural set point- but people who gain weight and lose weight repeatedly are at higher risk for cardiovascular death via heart attack or stroke.

Dieting Is Bad For Your Health

Sadly, the younger you start yo-yo dieting, the worse it is for your health- yet we live in a society where companies like WW’s Kurbo Weight Loss program for children market themselves as “not a diet” yet recommend restriction and calorie tracking- behaviors that we know can lead to disordered eating. and perpetuate the belief that restriction is the pathway to health. In a cruel twist of fate- yo yo dieting is actually more likely to cause gallstones, and throw off your metabolism. It puts your health AT RISK, and, yes, ironically, makes it more likely for you to gain weight in the future, because your body doesn’t know the difference between intentional restriction and famine- and we’ve evolved to hold on to weight to survive. This is arguably more dangerous for our health as a society than simply allowing more varied body types to be considered beautiful, no?

Conclusion

At the end of the day, it’s your body. You’re entitled to your aesthetic choices and to autonomy over it- but it’s important to know the difference between beauty and health when you’re making those choices.

If you’re sick of conflicting information and diet culture in disguise but still want to develop a regular movement practice, I created Helen Phelan Studio with this exactly in mind. My on demand library of 200+ classes focuses on tangible health goals like strength, endurance, mobility, and mental well being. You can start your 10 day free trial here.