episode 177: are you causing someone else’s body image issues?
Thanks for listening to episode 177 of The Diet Diaries.
Today’s conversation is really close to my heart, especially as we lead up to the launch of Soft Body Summer in 2 weeks!!
I’m talking about something that’s been on my mind a lot: how we talk about other people’s bodies. And whether we are inadvertently causing other people's body image issues.
We often default to complimenting weight loss as if it’s always a positive thing, but let’s unpack that. What are we really saying when we comment on someone’s size change? How might this impact them if the reasons behind their appearance changes aren’t happy or healthy ones?
There is SO much nuance to this that we need to think through.
We're taught since birth to see weight loss as universally good and weight gain as bad, but the realities are far more complex. This conversation is about questioning our reflex reactions and considering a more thoughtful approach to how we interact with each other about our bodies.
Some questions I’m thinking through in today’s episode:
Why do we find it acceptable to comment on weight loss but not weight gain?
What does this say about our cultural attitudes towards body size?
How can we shift away from compliments that focus on body size/shape?
And just a heads up that Soft Body Summer is coming! May 20—June 9. A three week self guided mini course and private Instagram chat group. Learn 3 essential skills so you can feel at ease in your body and have your most confident, relaxed summer yet. At any size and in any shape. Sign up opens May 13!
Check out episodes 171 an 176 of The Diet Diaries for more resources and support around body image issues.