Ditching Diets: Book Review of Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
Pack away your scales and grab a cozy seat (preferably one near your snack stash) because today, we're diving fork-first into the revolutionary world of "Anti-Diet" by Christy Harrison!
Setting the Table: What is Diet Culture?
Real quick, diet culture is a societal belief system that values and promotes the pursuit of a certain “ideal” body type. This culture emphasizes weight loss and dieting as a primary means to achieve better health, often disregarding the diversity of healthy body types and shapes. There are many implications of diet culture, such as stigmatization of certain body types, impacts on mental health, ignoring individual health needs, narrowing the definition of health, and fostering an obsession with weight. Challenging diet culture is essential for fostering a society that promotes holistic well-being, inclusivity, empowering individuals, encouraging compassion and empathy, and respecting all body types.
Appetizer: Background on the Author
Before we munch on the main course, let’s start with a quick appetizer, shall we? Our author today is Christy Harrison, an anti-diet registered dietitian nutritionist, certified intuitive eating counselor, and certified eating disorders registered dietitian. She is well known for being a superstar in debunking diet myths. Using scientific research, personal anecdotes, and narratives from peers and clients, Harrison offers a fresh new approach to diet culture, helping readers take back their bodies, minds, and lives to focus on what is truly meaningful to them.
Main Course: Intuitive Eating
Imagine a world where you can savor your favorite treats without the side dish of guilt…sounds pretty scrumptious right? The “Anti-Diet” promotes the concept of intuitive eating, which encourages individuals to listen to their bodies and eat according to internal cues rather than following restrictive diets.
For example… Imagine you're at a birthday party, and there's a luscious chocolate cake on the table. Intuitive eating can be practiced by listening to your body. You take a slice, savoring each bite because you genuinely crave the sweet delight. You enjoy it without unhelpful thoughts telling you unhelpful things, knowing it is more than okay to feel joy when eating! Isn’t that quite an uplifting breath of self-compassion in a world often obsessed with calorie counting, working for your food, and food shaming?!
Side Dishes: Health at Every Size (HAES)
Health at Every Size (HAES) is an approach that is all about embracing health, well-being, and celebrating body diversity. Rather than chasing after a ‘one size fits all’ ideal, HAES encourages us to tune into our bodies’ unique signals about hunger and satisfaction. Harrison argues that the societal pressure to conform to an “ideal” body type often harms people’s health and well-being. She advocates for a more inclusive and compassionate approach to health, recognizing that people can be healthy at various body sizes. The principles of HAES include respecting body diversity, listening to internal cues about hunger and fullness, and finding joy in movement rather than focusing on weight loss as a goal.
Nourishing Snacks: Well-Being and Joy
Harrison emphasizes that well-being surpasses conventional beauty standards and dieting norms, highlighting the importance of self-acceptance, mental health, and finding contentment within oneself. This view encourages individuals to break free from societal pressures and embrace a holistic sense of well-being rooted in self-love, self-care, and genuine joy in living authentically. Two strategies to help you on your self-love journey include:
Reflection. Examine your values and beliefs around food and nourishment. Where did you learn these from? Are these beliefs helpful for you today? What beliefs would you like to begin questioning or shifting? Self-reflection helps you identify areas where you might be conforming to external pressures rather than listening to your wise mind and authentic self.
Self-Compassion and Care. Practice self-compassion by being kind to yourself. Prioritize self-care routines that nurture your physical and mental well-being, making them a non-negotiable part of your life.
After Meal Mint: Resources by Christy Harrison
Christy Harrison also hosts a podcast called “Food Psych” where she discusses many of the concepts presented in the book in more detail. You can find more resources, including guides and courses on intuitive eating, on Christy Harrison’s website.
As we clear the table, consider the idea that holistic well-being, grounded in self-love, self-care, and authentic living, could be a recipe for a rich and fulfilling life. Anti-Diet can serve as a friendly guide and resource for all ages. The concepts it shares can help parents, teens, and young adults build a more reasonable relationship with food and their bodies - boosting confidence and reducing the stress of chasing after unrealistic beauty standards.
This book review was authored by individual and group therapist Fatima Sakrani, LSW.
