Time to End the Diet Culture

The New Year's resolution has always been one of my least favorite holiday traditions. The first of January is just an ordinary day, there's nothing that's specially ordained it to be a day where change is any more possible or will power is any stronger, yet many still like to follow the "New Year new me" trend. What I find to be the most regrettable part of it all is the fact that the number one New Year's resolution made is to lose weight. It's unfortunate that so many people are so displeased with their bodies that to many the biggest accomplishment for their year will be couple of shed pounds. I think that one of the biggest factors of this mentality is demonstrated through the media this holiday season. The fact that weight loss is a widely accepted New Year's resolution is no secret. That's why, early this January,one can expect to see morning TV shows, magazines and advertisements bloom with headlines selling all kinds of tricks, miracle diets and super foods to make the pounds melt away in no time. The new year is the high tide of society's obsession with dieting and it needs to stop.

It isn't just because dieting has been argued to be counterproductive and even unhealthy among doctors. It's offensive. Not everyone wants to be thin, not everybody can be thin. Perpetuating the idea that this is the New Year is when people are supposed to make the decision to dramatically change their bodies is dangerous. It tells people that the only way to finish the year successfully is to become thin, but noticeable results take a while, and a 365 expiration date can make people impaitent. When counting calories, becoming vegetarian, or the detox tea doesn't work, people start taking more extreme measures.

I saw the consequence of the calander-based weight loss first hand with my twin sister who, at 240 lbs; wanted to lose 80 pounds by the beginning of her next school year. She cut off junk food, ate nothing but fruits and vegetables, then stopped eating altogether. By Junior year, my sister was praised for losing 30 pounds, but she had also developed an eating disorder nobody knew about until the following Novermber. When I came to visit over the holidays it seemed as if she had picked up healthier eating habits, but constantly asked if it looked like she had gained weight since the last time I saw her. Reflecting on my sister's experiences, I can't help but blame America's anti-curve culture for the way she sees herself. Our plus sized population being so under represented is one issue, but demeaning this community by promoting weight loss as much we do at the beginning of the year contributes to the problem just as much. 

The concept of New Year's resolutions aren't entirely evil, I think the biggest issue lies in society's definition of what a "better self" is. For many this comes from the inside. Take Demi Lavoto for example, who list weight but decided to show off some gained confidence instead by posting a picture of her at the beginning and end of the year side by side on instagram and  captioning it, "I was beautiful then and I'm beautiful now."  This is how weight loss resolutions should be approached if approached at all. Losing weight doesn't mean that the heavier version of somebody was any less than the thinner. This kind of milestone should be presented and celebrated as an increase in not beauty or self worth, but, "health, balance, endurance and consistancy" as Demi continues in her post.

Inspiring words aside, if there's anything that we should strive to have more healthy, more balanced and more consistent by the end of the year, it should be our outlook on body image and the way we present it to others. Maybe we won't shed all the insensitivy away by 2016, but I think it's a pretty good goal to keep in mind.