Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, July 12, 2023 – ‘Body Transformation’ is cool these days. When shown a ‘before’ and ‘after’ pic of someone who has lost considerable weight quickly, people often wonder whether they can emulate the feat. In awe of such laudable achievements, most of us do not even contemplate the damaging effects of sudden body transformations. One of the biggest reasons behind the positive outlook around ‘transformations’ is the bombardment of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram with ‘slimming’, ‘transformation’ and ‘dieting’ videos. Therefore, trying different diets without considering the harmful effects has become a trend, and people are wilfully walking into the mire of eating disorders.
The Negative Impact of Unregulated Cultural Shift Towards Dieting
Over the last decade, social media has garnered tremendous power. In some ways, it has become a ‘law’ for adolescent minds and even fully-grown adults who follow whatever is preached. Unfortunately, the content we see on Instagram and TikTok is not evaluated. Therefore, most of what is shown is believed to be accurate by many people, especially teenagers.
As social media is mostly about ‘vanity’ (as people show themselves in videos and try to look their best), dieting has become a significant topic of discussion. But many times, we see half-baked ideas that do not conform to any medical advice being preached, like expert suggestions. Naturally, many people fall into the trap and religiously follow so-called diet plans. In some cases, the adverse effects of mindless diet plans can be as harmful as binge eating disorder.
Below are some negative impacts of following such diet plans:
Promotes extreme eating behaviours
Diet culture often encourages extreme or restrictive eating patterns, such as cutting out entire food groups or severely limiting calorie intake. Such extreme behaviours can lead to disordered eating patterns and a preoccupation with food and weight.
It doesn’t take into account individual needs
Diet culture often disregards the importance of individuality regarding nutrition and well-being. Instead, it promotes a one-size-fits-all approach, overlooking the fact that different bodies have different needs. This can lead individuals to ignore their own hunger and fullness cues, following external rules instead of listening to their bodies’ natural signals.
Promoting body dissatisfaction
Diet culture perpetuates the idea that thinness equals beauty and success. This constant emphasis on achieving a specific body ideal can contribute to body dissatisfaction and a negative body image. As a result, individuals may develop an unhealthy relationship with their bodies and engage in extreme measures to try to attain the desired shape and size.
Encourages weight stigma
Diet culture often promotes weight stigma and reinforces negative stereotypes about larger body sizes. This can lead to internalized weight bias, which can significantly impact self-esteem and contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviours.
Fostering an “all-or-nothing” mindset which is a mistake when it comes to nutrition
Diet culture promotes strict rules around food, labelling certain foods as “good” or “bad.” This dichotomous thinking can lead to a rigid and inflexible relationship with food. In addition, it may contribute to feelings of guilt, shame, and a sense of failure when individuals deviate from the prescribed rules, which can further perpetuate disordered eating patterns.
Mental and emotional health is not even considered
The intense focus on weight, food, and appearance perpetuated by diet culture can take a toll on mental and emotional well-being. The constant pressure to conform to societal beauty standards and the fear of weight gain can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, which can, in turn, exacerbate disordered eating behaviours. There are times when a bite of chocolate is all you need to feel good, but restrictive diet plans prohibit you and prevent you from remedying a bad mood.
What are some Signs of Eating Disorders?
As eating disorders can lead to negative repercussions, it is essential to understand the signs if you want to prevent a loved one from damaging their health. Below are some signs of an eating disorder:
- Significant weight fluctuations
- Obsession with body weight and shape
- Restrictive eating patterns
- Intense fear of weight gain
- Distorted body image
- Awkward behaviour around food
- Excessive exercise by a person who is averse to exercise
- Social withdrawal and avoidance
- Frequent changes in mood and behaviour
Final Thoughts
In today’s image-obsessed society, where the pursuit of the “perfect” body is constantly glorified, dieting has become a ubiquitous trend. The rise of social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter has further amplified this phenomenon, creating an environment where diet culture thrives and spreads like wildfire. However, unregulated following of the diet culture can have several adverse effects. Therefore, if you have a loved one following such unregulated diet plans and jeopardizing their health, you should offer some advice. If that doesn’t help, you should take them to an eating disorder treatment centre near you before it compromises their well-being.
Contact:
Company: UK Rehab Treatment Ltd
Name: David Smith
Email: info@ukat.co.uk
Phone: 0808 258 3032
Website: https://www.ukat.co.uk/
Address: Unit 1, Floor 1 Imperial Place, Maxwell Road, Borehamwood, WD6 1JN, England
