Blog post written by Lindzie O’Reilly, Registered Dietitian, MAN, University of Guelph
Every year on May 6, individuals and organizations around the world recognize International No Diet Day (INDD). The objectives of INDD are to challenge misconceptions about dieting, push back against the industries that sustain diet culture, and reinforce the harms of dieting among people across age, gender, culture, and body size. Dieting can be defined as any intentional change to our lifestyle (modifying food habits, exercise routine, supplements) for the sole purpose of changing our weight or shape. The diet industry often touts products aimed at improving our health and wellbeing while in truth, these products net the Canadian diet industry hundreds of millions of dollars in profit each year at the expense of our health and wellbeing. For more information about INDD and the harms of dieting, check out Break Free From Diet Culture.
This year, in the midst of a global pandemic, even those savvy at spotting and fighting against diet culture have faced new challenges. Like a sneaky virus, diet culture has mutated and introduced a whole new breed of myths and misconceptions that lead us to doubt our bodies and promote body shame. Posts abound suggesting that if we don’t ‘watch our bodies’ while spending more time at home in isolation, they will lead us astray. The diet industry taps into our human desire to find something to control when so much around us is out of our control.
In the midst of a global health crisis, staying healthy, physically and mentally, is very important. Since diet culture equates our weight with our health, it’s no surprise that the internet has exploded with strategies to ‘keep tabs’ on our weight – through monitoring, body checking, tracking our intake, and fixating on a need to move our bodies. At best, these behaviours promote body shaming and negative body image. At worst, they can progress to symptoms of an eating disorder that feel all too familiar to anyone who has ever struggled with one. Many individuals with a history of an eating disorder wisely put a lot of effort into screening their social media to ensure they are following accounts that promote recovery and body acceptance and avoiding accounts that promote dieting, body checking, and body shaming. Right now, information about COVID-19 exists in some form on essentially every social media account and news outlet. Individuals looking for accurate and up to date information on the pandemic can very easily be blindsided with information that serves up a side of diet culture.
In this time when physical and mental wellbeing truly is so important, and diet culture is sneakier than ever, let’s talk about some real things that we can do to support our health.
In addition to practicing physical distancing and washing your hands, eating an amount of food that is right for your body is the best way to keep your immune system strong. While access to food might be different than usual for you right now, it’s important to continue to do your best to follow the same meal plan or food goals that you were following pre-COVID. There is no ‘diet’ to improve your immunity and most diets lack nutrients and energy, compromising your immunity.
Our lives have changed a lot in the past two months. It’s likely that everyone has experienced some degree of stress related to these changes. Rather than letting diet culture infiltrate your thoughts and contribute to further stress and body vigilance, it’s helpful to find outlets to manage stress. This can include things like reading, painting, connecting with a loved one, meditation, or even cooking and baking. Contrary to what diet culture tells us, baking and enjoying what you bake does not automatically classify you as a stress eater. It’s perfectly okay to bake, even if you’re baking a little more than you usually would right now. It is helpful to have a wide range of coping strategies so that you are not relying on any one single strategy to help you manage.
While most of us have a little bit more time at home than usual, now is a great time to try a couple new recipes. They don’t need to be complicated and don’t need to include challenge foods (unless that is a goal of yours). Taking time to learn new go-to staples will give you more meal options to draw from when you return to your regular routine. Variety in your diet can go a long way towards helping you meet your nutrient needs. Trying new recipes when your schedule is packed can feel impossible. If you do have more time right now, getting comfortable with a new recipe or two can help further your recovery in the future.
Getting some fresh air and moving your body in a way you enjoy can be helpful in managing stress and boosting mood. For someone with an eating disorder, that’s not a simple ask. For many folks, exercise was already a complicated thing and may now be an even more complicated thing in our current situation. It’s helpful to ask yourself what is motivating a given decision about exercise – am I doing it because it truly feels good in my body, or because I think I should? For support in trying to tease this question apart, an upcoming discussion facilitated by Dr. Andrea Lamarre will be helpful - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/working-it-out-exercise-and-recovery-tickets-103030910226?aff=erelexpmlt
Now more than ever, moving away from diet culture and engaging in behaviours that truly support our mental and physical wellbeing is so important. If you’re used to seeing positive affirmations in the windows of Waterloo-Wellington businesses during the first week of May, fear not, the Waterloo Wellington Eating Disorders Coalition is adapting the campaign to go virtual this year. Check us out on Facebook and Instagram to see positive INDD messages on May 6th. Follow and support your local businesses that will be sharing our virtual window signs on May 6th. Spread the word in your own networks and make a difference today!