Let's Unpack That
Welcome to "Let's Unpack That", my podcast and favourite phrase to use in my dietitian/counselling clinic.
We all carry around a mental suitcase full of food and body thoughts, beliefs and rules, usually negative, rigid or restrictive, that hold us back from living our best (and healthiest) lives.
Each fortnight, I'll dig into this suitcase and unpack a common food or body thought, belief or rule and discuss it so you can decide if you want to continue lugging it around for another decade or if you're ready to clear some space for more helpful food and body beliefs.
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Let's Unpack That
"I'm worried about your health"
In this first episode, we're tackling a common comment: "I'm just worried about your health." You know the one—where a well-meaning relative at a family picnic remarks on your weight after you go for a second helping. It's a comment that's normalized in our society, but it's actually quite problematic. Let's unpack why.
We've been conditioned to believe that thin equals healthy and that gaining weight is inherently unhealthy. This binary thinking is pervasive, but it's flawed. Health is about so much more than weight. Your health involves physical, mental, and social well-being—not just avoiding illness. Yet, when someone comments on your weight under the guise of "health concerns," it promotes weight stigma and can harm your mental and physical health.
Weight stigma contributes to stress, anxiety, depression, binge eating, high blood pressure, and high blood glucose levels. It's harmful and counterproductive. When someone comments on your weight, they're likely influenced by societal beliefs rather than actual health knowledge. They don't have an X-ray vision to see your blood pressure, glucose levels, stress, or sleep quality.
In this episode, I'll delve into why focusing on weight is a lazy approach to health. We'll explore how our healthcare system and society place undue emphasis on weight, often ignoring mental health and social connectedness, which are crucial components of overall well-being.
I'll share insights from my work with clients, where we dismantle these harmful beliefs and focus on behaviours that truly enhance health—like sleep, stress management, nutrition, and movement—rather than weight. By challenging the comment, "I'm just worried about your health," we can begin to unlearn toxic narratives and embrace a more holistic view of health.
Join me as we unpack this comment and many more in future episodes. Let's start lightening that mental suitcase filled with food and body rules and beliefs. Because life is too short to be weighed down by unnecessary baggage.
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