New year, same worth: Unpacking Diet Culture and New Year’s Resolutions

When January first comes rolling around the corner, one of the first parts of their lives that people try to change are their diet and exercise routines. A common goal of many of these diets is extreme and fast weight loss, often including cutting out whole food groups and restricting vital macronutrients and calories. Typically, these diets do not last for people, are not sustainable, and can trigger further unhealthy habits, especially for people with a history of disordered eating or struggles with body image. 

For those who do have past or current struggles with disordered eating, this time of the year may trigger them to develop unhealthy habits. With media, advertisements, and talk about losing weight as a necessary goal to be healthy, it can be difficult to stray away from these behaviors. However, it is important to understand that while these behaviors are disordered, they are often unsustainable as well. Restricting can lead to a cycle of bingeing and restricting, dangerous weight fluctuations, and yo-yo dieting. 

Additionally, these behaviors can take a major toll on one’s mental and emotional health. New year’s resolution dieting is rooted in shame and hatred toward our current bodies and self, unrealistic standards, and can promote disordered eating. Overall, it encourages the idea that our bodies are the most important thing about us and pushes the standard of beauty to equal thinness. It insinuates that the “best” version of ourselves is the smallest. 

While a new year may bring a plethora of challenges, excitements, and new things, dieting and engaging in disordered eating can take a large toll on one’s self-worth. For those in recovery from an eating disorder, this can be harmful, especially when friends, family, and the media are participating. During this time, it is important to lean on support when needed and source other areas of life to improve on without harming your wellbeing. Some examples include working on your self-care, or making it a goal to provide at least one act of self-care each day. Practicing self-care, kindness, and goals unrelated to one’s bodies is important when it comes to avoiding relapse or the development of disordered behaviors.