Diet culture is making a resurgence and we couldn’t be further angry about that.
The signs are everywhere. The new weight loss drugs that make people think our bodies are more changeable than they really are and promise in their advertising, the same shitty diets have promised for generations and failed to deliver: the transformation myth. Former champions of body positivity have gone to the dark side. Vogue Business reports a «worrying return to the use of extremely thin models» and size inclusivity in the fashion industry.
There are entire industries that make billions of dollars each year by making us feel bad about our bodies and selling «solutions» to our «problem» bodies that never actually provide long-term sustainable results. And every time we get wise and back away, they come up with something else we need to obsess over to be considered worthy.
In this week’s episode of The Fit Bottom Girls PodcastI sat down with FBG Alex Explore the resurgence of diet culture, its historical roots, and our personal experiences with disordered eating habits and poor body image caused by diet culture’s false promises of «thin = health.»
We’re calling diet culture what it is: a force that keeps people perpetually pursuing thinness under the guise of «health,» often at the cost of their mental health, physical health, and overall well-being.
We’ve both been deeply negatively affected by diet culture, as two women who grew up in two different generations and two different countries, so we won’t go back without a fight. In this episode, we tackle diet culture head on, expose its toxic roots, and call bullshit on its core arguments that:
- Combine weight loss with health
- Making assumptions about people and their health based on their body size
- Set certain foods or ingredients as «good» and others as «bad»
We also call out platforms like Tumblr (flashback to the “thigh gap” years) and Instagram for perpetuating toxic body standards. Social media has become a breeding ground for unrealistic “fitspiration” and fears over what defines “good” or “clean” food. This influence has paved the resurgence of outdated, thin-centric trends, even after years of body positivity efforts.
In this episode, we also share our own raw personal stories along with real, uplifting strategies to reshape how we view our bodies. We also emphasize the importance of support systems in navigating these challenges and emphasize that healing is a journey that involves recognizing and managing thoughts and feelings about body image.
Whether you’re down for the endless scrolling of «Fitspo» or tired of fighting unrealistic expectations, this episode is filled with wisdom, compassion, and a lot of real truth. If you’re ready to challenge the noise and start rewriting your own body story, listen to this one.
Here’s why we’re obsessed with this episode:
It’s a raw and deeply personal conversation about the resurgence of diet culture and its disturbing impact on mental and physical health. From the social pressures linked to thinness to the toxic influence of social media, this conversation peels back the layers of a system that often equates body image with value.
🚨 Heading, this episode dives into heavy, relatable territory like disordered eating and body image struggles. Whether you’re navigating your own healing or just curious about the nuances of diet culture, this one is powerful.
Don’t skip this one if…
✅ have you ever exactly it is «Diet culture.»
✅ Have you wondered how diet culture and social media influence our choices, beliefs, and beauty standards?
✅ You’re interested in how diet culture intersects with mental health, control, and historical social norms.
✅ Have you ever wondered how to push back against diet culture and unhealthy beauty standards.
Tune in now to hear the personal experiences of FBGS Alison and Alex!
👉 listen to the full episode Here
👉 Watch the episode on YouTube
What you will learn in this episode:
- How the resurgence of diet culture is fueled by social media trends and weight loss drug marketing.
- The slippery slope of labeling foods as «good» or «bad.»
- Why disordered behaviors (like orthorexia) can be disguised as «healthy habits.»
- The emotional spiral of tying body image to self-esteem.
- That healing is not about eliminating shameful thoughts, it is about learning to manage them.
About Alex Kennedy
Alex is a badass mindset and life coach for the stylish who want to achieve their massive goals and thrive as a human (because you don’t have to Sacrifice your well-being for success!). She also brings the «it» to FheNess via Shuffle Dance, where he embodies his strange and quirky personality on the dance floor while sweating and doing footwork faster than Scooby & Shaggy running on the spot. Your Shuffle dance education platform, Crushteaches this iconic dance style and ties the importance of mindset to everything she teaches her students.
Follow Alex
Alex Kennedy is a mindset coach with a knack for helping his clients unravel their tangled relationships with control, identity, and perfectionism. By sharing her own struggles with diet culture and body image, she validates experiences we don’t always talk about. Stay connected with Alex on Instagram (@alexnicolekennedy) For more mindset tips and inspiration to help you face life’s challenges with grace.
Sponsor Shoutout
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Channeling my inner Kevin O’Leary, because, diet culture, I’m out. –Alison
