Exercise, Diet, and Eating Disorders – The Link From One E.D. to Another

Whether you have noticed or not, diet culture plays a huge role in society. While it may seem like the most recent fad, diet trends have been on the rampage for quite some time. Living in a society that is constantly focused on inaccurate health and body standards is a quick way to jump from Exercise and Diet to Eating 

How Prominent is Diet and Exercise in Society?

Quite frankly, diet culture is everywhere. From pop culture to social media, we are constantly taught that the goal is to achieve the ultimate body in order to have happiness and worth. NEDA, the National Eating Disorder Association, reports that “Americans spend over $60 billion on dieting and diet products each year.” And that “a content analysis of weight-loss advertising in 2001 found that more than half of all advertising for weight-loss product made use of false, unsubstantiated claims.” This is an absurd amount to spend on something that won’t actually work.

How Influential is Diet and Exercise?

Diet and exercise have become so influential that individuals are completely altering their lifestyles for the latest trends. Being a part of diet culture means being immersed in an environment of cultural messages about bodies and food. These messages may look like:

• Thinness means health and overall wellness
• Thinness equals worth

These messages are often hidden under “fluff”, promises, and “healthy goals”. Perhaps you may recognize the following examples:

• Product labels that emphasize “guilt free”, “fit”, “healthy” in big bold prints, colors, or fonts
• Tracking calorie or macro intake or setting “personalized” daily calorie goals based on your age and gender

Despite the promise of bringing health and wellness by buying into these trends, they often result in poor self-esteem, mental health, and potentially mental illness. These trends encourage excessive exercise, weight loss at unhealthy rates, and limitation of food groups which provide essential nutrients. The idea that reaching the “ideal body” is what brings happiness is not true.

What Effect Does Exercise Have?

Exercise programs often set users up for failure. Not only do they cost a lot of money, but they set unrealistic or unhealthy goals, encourage unhealthy obsessions with body image and exercise, or are so extreme that they cannot be integrated into daily life in a healthy way. NEDA reports that “95% of all dieters will regain their lost weight in 1-5 years.” Which is a perfect way for self-esteem to plummet and keep users trapped in the cycle of having to stick to a program.

For some, exercise can become an unhealthy obsession. Studies have shown that “an estimated 3% of gym-goers have a destructive relationship with exercise. Some studies have found that the number may be even higher, upwards of 42%.” 

Exercise obsession, also known as dysfunctional exercise, can include behaviors such as:

• Strict exercise regimens 
• Requiring exercise before or after eating certain types or amounts of food
• Prioritizing exercise over life or events
• Exercising despite injury or fatigue
• Anxiousness if unable to exercise

For those with eating disorders, and unhealthy obsession with exercise can lead to health issues and a worsening relationship with oneself and body.

What Effect Does Diet Have?

Diet programs also set users up for failure. They teach users to restrict food groups and amounts, define food as “good” and “bad”, create feelings of shame around food, and lead to disordered eating habits or even eating disorders.

Disordered eating refers to irregular habits of eating and can have the following symptoms:

• Excessive dieting
• Fasting or meal skipping
• Anxiousness with certain food groups
• Guilt and shame associated with certain food groups or eating in general
• Food restriction
• Purging
• Obsession with weight
• Requiring exercise before or after eating certain types or amounts of food

Diet users often regain weight when returning to “normal eating” after a program due to binge eating. Food deprivation during a diet can signal to the body that it is in a “famine” or “starving”. This means that the body’s response is to store everything it can to maintain the body through this period or famine or starvation. This body response can easily bring about feelings of guilt, shame, failure, and more disordered eating behaviors. Which once again, is a perfect way for self-esteem to plummet and keep users trapped in the cycle of having to stick to a program.

Disordered eating can lead to many health concerns such as:

• Development of an eating disorder
• Brain Health
• Heart Health
• Dental Health
• Muscle Wasting
• Bone Density
• Digestive Issues
• Hair Loss

When is Enough Actually Enough?

Diet culture is so prevalent in society that it can be hard to tell if you, or someone you know, has gone too far. However, here are a few things to ask yourself:

• Can you withdraw from the program or routine?
• Are you in control of how much or how little you participate?
• Can you stick to a small goal or intention?
• How much time are you dedicating?
• Is it taking over your life?
• Are you continuing despite fatigue, illness, injury, or other related factors?
• Is your intention or goal a resulting high or feeling?

How to Fight Diet and Exercise Culture?

True health and wellness looks different for every individual. Here are a few key take aways to remember:

• Your worth is not equal to your weight
• What is helpful for one person, may not work for someone else
• Happiness is not dependent on a body size
• Exercise should be a form of self-love to appreciate your body
• Diet and exercise are only parts of overall health, not the only focus
• You do not have to “earn” your food to nourish yourself
• You do not have to change your body, it’s beautiful at any size
• Food is not inherently “good” or “bad”
• Your body is unique
• You deserve to love yourself!

Change can take time. But if you start being kind to yourself today, it will get easier tomorrow. In the meantime, remember that I love you, and you should love you too!

If you or someone you know is struggling, head to the Resources page for help or further education.

If you need someone to talk to, feel free to reach out on my Contact page. I’d love to hear from you!