#181: How to "Just Eat It" and Break Free from Diet Culture with Laura Thomas, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor
Jan 14, 2019
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Laura Thomas, intuitive eating counselor and author, discusses breaking free from diet culture and the problems with The Wellness Diet. They explore the stigmatization of emotional eating, challenges in the nutrition field, and the 12-step model's compatibility with intuitive eating. They also delve into weight stigma, toxic academic environments, and discovering Health At Every Size. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of opposing diet culture, embracing intuitive eating, and fostering a more equitable society.
Intuitive eating can lead to a profound shift in mindset and a healing of the relationship with food.
Addressing weight stigma and challenging the wellness diet are ongoing battles that require perseverance and education.
The movement towards intuitive eating and health at every size has been fueled by online platforms, but activists with marginalized identities face additional challenges.
Deep dives
The journey from wellness to intuitive eating and health at every size
The speaker reflects on her personal journey from being steeped in the wellness world to discovering intuitive eating and health at every size. She discusses how she initially fell into the trap of the wellness diet, trying to eat perfectly and maintain control, only to find herself bingeing and feeling like a failure. However, once she discovered the concepts of intuitive eating and health at every size, she experienced a profound and liberating shift. She recalls feeling relief that the problem wasn't with her, but with the diet culture and societal expectations around weight and appearance. She also acknowledges the importance of understanding hunger and embracing intuitive eating principles, ultimately finding balance and healing her relationship with food.
Recognizing weight stigma and the limitations of the wellness diet
The speaker highlights the harmful impact of weight stigma and the wellness diet. She discusses how the public is becoming more receptive to the idea that traditional approaches to weight management and wellness are often ineffective and perpetuate harmful beliefs. However, she acknowledges that entrenched industries and systems continue to resist change. She notes that while there has been progress in addressing weight stigma, there is still work to be done, particularly in challenging the narratives around weight and focusing on well-being rather than weight as a measure of health.
The struggle to change entrenched beliefs in academia and the nutrition field
The speaker shares her experiences of encountering resistance to the anti-diet and health at every size messages within academia and the nutrition field. She discusses the challenges of shifting deeply entrenched beliefs and the fear of losing power and influence that often accompanies change. While acknowledging the slow progress in challenging these beliefs, she emphasizes the importance of continuing to advocate for a weight-inclusive approach and to educate others about the harmful effects of weight stigma and the limitations of traditional diet culture.
The importance of perseverance and the role of privilege in advocating for change
The speaker reflects on the importance of perseverance in advocating for a weight-inclusive approach and challenging diet culture. She acknowledges her own privilege in being able to do this work and recognizes the responsibility that comes with it. She encourages others in the field to continue spreading the message of intuitive eating and health at every size, acknowledging that change takes time and effort. She highlights the importance of planting seeds and creating conversations around these topics, even when faced with resistance and setbacks.
The power of intuitive eating and the resurgence of health at every size
The podcast episode explores how the movement of people, sparked by online platforms like blogs and social media, has led to a resurgence in intuitive eating and health at every size. The guest discusses the importance of this movement and how it has given new life to the work of promoting body acceptance and self-compassion. They also acknowledge the roots of this work in the anti-diet movements of the 60s and 70s and express gratitude towards those who pioneered the movement despite facing significant challenges and stigma. The podcast highlights the role of social media in spreading the message, but also recognizes the extra layers of challenges faced by activists with marginalized identities.
The consequences of weight stigma and the impact of sociopolitical factors on our relationship with food
The episode delves into the harmful effects of weight stigma and diet culture, emphasizing the impact on individuals' mental and physical health. It discusses the insidious nature of microaggressions and how they contribute to the overall toll of weight stigma. The guest explains how sociopolitical factors, such as cultural beauty standards and the use of labels like 'obesity,' perpetuate weight stigma and negatively affect our relationship with food. They also point out the resistance from certain sectors, such as public health, in acknowledging weight stigma and the importance of addressing it. The episode concludes by highlighting the ongoing battle to challenge these harmful narratives and create a more equitable society.
Intuitive eating counselor and author Laura Thomas joins us to discuss her new book, JustEatIt; the problems with The Wellness Diet; why subtle levels of weight stigma are so hard to pinpoint and eradicate; why "emotional eating" and turning to food for comfort are falsely demonized in diet culture; why people in the nutrition field often struggle in their own relationships with food; and so much more. Plus, Christy answers a listener question about whether the 12-step model works for food issues.
Laura Thomas, PhD is an AfN Registered Nutritionist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor specialising in Intuitive Eating, Mindful Eating, weight inclusive and non-diet nutrition. She has a BSc in Health Sciences from the University of Aberdeen, a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from Texas A&M University, and completed her Post-Doctoral research at Cornell University in behaviour change. She is the host of Don’t Salt My Game podcast and was the Nutritionist for the 2017 BBC1 documentary Mind Over Marathon. She established the London Centre for Intuitive Eating in 2017 to help clients and train clinicians in Intuitive Eating. Her first book, JustEatIt, was published this month by Bluebird Books. Find her online at LauraThomasPhD.co.uk.
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