Yesterday morning, I received an email from a public relations representative promoting a “weight care” program. The message rambled on, touting how their approach was distinct from traditional diets, claiming to be science-based and non-judgmental. They emphasized a holistic view of “weight care,” prioritizing health markers like cholesterol and blood pressure over mere weight loss. Clearly, they thought I would be eager to share this groundbreaking program with my audience.
However, my skepticism was heightened by the overwhelming diet culture jargon packed into that email. Just to confirm my instincts, I clicked on the link and completed a brief health survey to see their recommendations for me.
Ten minutes later, I discovered that their “holistic, science-based, revolutionary plan” involved prescription weight loss medications.
I felt like Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada.” “Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking.”
Typically, I ignore such offers, but this time, I replied that I wasn’t the right fit to promote any intentional weight loss program, suggesting they look elsewhere.
Honestly, my feelings toward the weight loss industry can be summed up in one word: SCREW YOU.
Especially now, with so many Americans reporting weight gain during the pandemic, the weight loss industry is poised to capitalize on this. They desperately need to recover from the losses incurred when gyms closed and meetings were canceled, pushing people to spend hundreds on supplements and foods that essentially boil down to a multivitamin and calorie deficit.
Many of us gained weight because we were stuck at home, navigating a deadly pandemic. We’ve witnessed nearly 600,000 American lives lost to a virus we barely understood two years ago. Our kids have been learning in bizarre circumstances, either at home or in unconventional school settings.
If we indulged a little more, moved a bit less, or found solace in cooking and exploring new flavors, SO WHAT? As life starts to normalize, many of us will naturally revert to our pre-pandemic weights. Personally, I’ve been shedding some pounds over the last couple of months as I’ve felt more comfortable leaving home after getting vaccinated. I resumed seeing my doctor and managed to get back on medication for my polycystic ovarian syndrome. My body is readjusting to my pre-pandemic weight because my habits are becoming more familiar.
It’s almost as if weight fluctuation is COMPLETELY NORMAL.
Now, regarding the diet industry…
I will always feel repulsed by the multi-billion-dollar weight loss industry. They disguise themselves with feel-good phrases like health, wellness, and lifestyle changes to convince you that your life hinges on giving them your money. They reduce health to a number on a scale, promoting dangerous practices like starvation, excessive exercise, and unregulated supplements. Their “communities” exist to “motivate” you to stay with their program, leading you to spend more and more. The ratio of “success” stories to “failures” is staggering, yet the few who “succeed” are hailed as proof that their program works, provided you are committed and determined enough.
No matter what they’re selling, they insist it’s beneficial for everyone, much better than the so-called unsightly belly fat! The entirety of the diet industry’s business model relies on making people feel terrible about their bodies, perpetually accepting that they are works in progress, chasing an ideal that is unattainable for most.
They manipulate our emotions with before-and-after photos featuring sad, frumpy individuals in ill-fitting athletic wear, presenting them as victims of their slightly overweight bodies. The after photos display smiling, confident individuals, exclaiming how happy they are to finally “look great!” Often, the “before photo” is closer to the ideal body than what many average people have, leaving us feeling even worse. “If SHE needed this program, I must REALLY need it.”
Let me clarify. I’m not against DIETERS.
If you’re dedicated to a program, I respect your right to make choices about your body. As I tell my children, YOU are in control of your body and can decide what goes into it.
However, I find the people profiting from your weight loss to be distasteful. The weight loss industry thrives on your eventual failure, which is a predatory business model. I fully support making informed choices about your body.
I advocate for consuming mostly nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods when possible because they are enjoyable and provide good fuel. I believe in listening to your hunger cues and separating food from morality. I also encourage engaging in enjoyable movement, whether it’s hula hooping with a niece or pushing your limits at a gym.
Moving feels good. Eating delicious foods feels good. Feeling secure and at home in your body feels good.
I’m completely on board with individuals doing whatever they need to feel content in their bodies. My feelings about my own body vary from neutral to radical acceptance, depending on the day. Mostly, I feel at peace with my body, recognizing its beauty, strength, and health. I’m not willing to spend my life waging war against it, though I don’t always adore its appearance. When life naturally leads me to lose weight, I appreciate that feeling. I don’t tie my worth to a lower weight, but I do feel a touch more comfortable in my skin.
Still, I refuse to spend a single cent on any company promising “holistic weight care” when what they really mean is “take this medication and call me when you’re thin so I can sell you something else.” No thanks. The weight loss industry can take a hike.
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In summary, the weight loss industry thrives on making individuals feel inadequate about their bodies, using manipulative tactics to promote their products and programs. Instead, we should focus on making healthy choices that feel good for us personally, without falling prey to the industry’s false promises.