Large health organizations advocating for good health to prevent chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease help create public awareness. Information derived from scientific research has taught us how to enjoy a better life and live longer.
But what happens when advocating for health ends up promoting unhealthy behaviors? It goes against what we think we know is best. Lose weight by diet and exercise and it will improve your health. We know this for sure. Or do we? When a person loses weight by going on a diet, they are praised for a job well done and are told how good they look. But then the weight comes back…
Sometimes with all good intentions, we end up learning valuable lessons. What do patients do with diet and exercise advice? Some may shrug it off and continue with their current lifestyle, while others will follow the advice and achieve a decent outcome. But for someone who is experiencing extreme body dissatisfaction, general weight loss messages can lead to disordered eating. These messages alienate patients with overweight or obesity who have tried to lose weight for a long time but were unable to keep it off.
With weight stigma prevalent in the news and social media, it can put a lot of stress on a patient who is overweight struggling with a chronic illness trying to do the right thing. Weight loss advice doesn’t consider one’s lifestyle behaviors and their choice to modify them. The more stigma that is put on an overweight individual to get them to lose weight the more it can increase behaviors of binge eating and reduce the desire for more physical activity (1).
Since, 2013, Binge eating disorder has been formally recognized as an eating disorder (2). Some of the warning signs include the disappearance of large amounts of food in a short amount of time; empty wrappers or containers left behind as an indication of the consumption; frequent dieting; eating in secret and extreme concern with body weight and shape (2).
Advocates for preventing/treating heart disease or any other chronic illness should exercise caution with messages that are a one size fits all mentality. Messages should be tailored to individuals based on their lifestyle and the environment they live in, genetics, health history, and body shape. Healthy isn’t about losing weight, it’s about promoting a healthy mindset that drives healthy behaviors for a lifetime.
If losing weight doesn’t equal better health what does? Here are 6 action steps
- Stop dieting to lose weight. Completely. Stop telling yourself that you need to lose weight. Commit to leaving the diet culture for good. Your BMI doesn’t tell your story about your health or where your body weight should be.
- Feed your body what it needs. Balance out foods with lower nutritional value with ones that are higher in nutritional value. Learn how to feed yourself by understanding your style of eating. Meet with a dietitian to expand your knowledge. If you don’t cook, learn the basics. Become an expert on your nutrition.
- Increase physical activity in ways you are able. If you’re living a sedentary lifestyle, commit to moving more by doing activities you enjoy. Move your body to improve the function of your brain, bones, muscles, and joints. Don’t exercise to lose weight.
- Become a skeptic. Don’t look for diet advice on social media. There are too many people on the internet without credentials giving the wrong health advice. Watch out for anything that promises a quick fix. Avoid organizations selling products “that will help you lose weight.” There are no guarantees for weight loss.
- Don’t replace meals with diet supplements to lose weight. Supplements are not reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness before they go on sale to the public. They cannot be marketed to prevent, treat, or cure disease (3). There is no magic pill.
- Get help from qualified professionals, if you think you might have an eating disorder or are suffering from depression and anxiety. Disordered eating behaviors contribute to weight gain over time. These behaviors put you at high risk for irreversible damage to your body’s systems, including your heart. Don’t go it alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder click to talk, text, or chat: NEDA (nationaleatingdisorders.org)
References
- Rebecca M. Puhl, Chelsea A. Heuer, “Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health”, American Journal of Public Health 100, no. 6 (June 1, 2010): pp. 1019-1028. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.159491
- “Binge Eating Disorder.” National Eating Disorders Association, 22 Feb. 2018, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/bed.
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “What You Need to Know About Dietary Supplements.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/what-you-need-know-about-dietary-supplements.
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