Why diet culture might be harming you

Diet culture glorifies thinness, restricts food groups, and promotes quick fixes, often disguised as “wellness.” While it promises control and confidence, it can actually harm your physical and mental health. From slowing your metabolism to damaging your relationship with food, here are six ways diet culture may be hurting you more than helping. (Source: Photo by unsplash)

Risk of Developing Eating Disorders: Skipping meals, obsessively counting calories, or fearing certain foods can evolve into disordered eating, which harms mental and physical well being. (Source: Photo by unsplash)

It Slows Down Your Metabolism: Constant dieting and under eating signal the body to conserve energy. Over time, your metabolism slows down, making weight maintenance even harder. (Source: Photo by unsplash)

It Promotes an Unhealthy Relationship with Food: Food becomes labelled as “good” or “bad,” creating guilt, fear, and anxiety around eating. This can lead to binge cycles and emotional stress. (Source: Photo by unsplash)

Ignores Bio Individuality: Diet culture treats one-size-fits-all plans as universal solutions. But people have different genetics, lifestyles, medical needs, and metabolic responses. (Source: Photo by unsplash)

It Raises Stress and Cortisol Levels: Strict diets increase psychological pressure. Elevated cortisol leads to fatigue, irritability, hormonal imbalance, and even belly-fat retention. (Source: Photo by unsplash)

It Encourages Unhealthy Restriction: Diet culture often pushes extreme calorie cuts or eliminating entire food groups. This leads to nutrient deficiencies, cravings, and rebound eating that harms long-term health. (Source: Photo by unsplash)