The Money with Katie Show cover image

The Money with Katie Show

“You Just Have to Keep Buying”: How Diet Culture Profits from Fatphobia

Jan 22, 2025
Lili Zarghami, a writer who detailed her experience with GLP-1 weight loss medication, joins Dr. Mara Gordon, a weight-neutral physician, to discuss the troubling interplay between diet culture and health. They delve into the economics of weight loss drugs, highlighting how societal pressures exacerbate body image issues. The conversation also critiques fatphobia and the medicalization of obesity, urging a compassionate approach to health. Together, they illuminate the emotional and psychological costs of stigma, advocating for broader understanding in healthcare.
01:12:39

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Diet culture perpetuates a negative relationship with body weight, driving a multi-billion dollar industry that profits from fatphobia and constant consumerism.
  • Income and body size are inversely related for women, highlighting economic pressures that incentivize weight loss despite ethical concerns regarding access to treatments.

Deep dives

Understanding Diet Culture

Diet culture promotes a negative perception of body weight, urging individuals to constantly shrink their bodies based on societal standards. It is described as a complex system that thrives on the inefficacy of diets, compelling people to keep purchasing memberships, apps, or medications to maintain perceived desirability. This multi-billion dollar industry often enforces a cycle of fatphobia, suggesting that failure to adhere to its rigid standards results in social and health issues. Such influences contribute to a culture where personal worth is tied to body size, often overlooked as a significant societal pressure.

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