Does Weight Loss Equal Health?
Many people equate losing weight with becoming healthier, but the reality is more complex. Health is influenced by so many factors, and weight alone is not a reliable indicator of overall health.
🚫 Why this myth is unhelpful:
While losing weight can sometimes be associated with health improvements, it's not the weight loss itself that brings these benefits. Health improvements often result from adopting healthier behaviours, such as eating a balanced diet, increasing physical activity, and managing stress. These behaviours can enhance health regardless of whether weight loss occurs.
Focusing solely on weight can lead to unhealthy practices like extreme dieting, yo-yo dieting, over-exercising, and developing disordered eating symptoms such as food stress, low self-esteem, anxiety and poor body image.
Often with my clients I help them to redefine the meaning of health and build their understanding on how they can reach health goals without the focus on numbers (weight/calories).
🌟 What you could do instead:
Adopt healthy habits: Focus on eating nutritious foods, doing movement that feels good, understanding your emotions and getting enough sleep. These habits benefit your health regardless of weight changes.
Change to an ‘add-in’ mentality: Years of dieting may have you thinking “What do I need to avoid to reach my health goals?” Instead, try shifting your focus to “What can I add to my routine to support my health?” This could mean incorporating more fruits and veggies, more fluid, adding a relaxing bedtime routine to support sleep, or finding joyful movement.
Struggling with dieting and binge eating…
Discuss your concerns with me, a trained non-diet registered dietitian:
Feeling overwhelmed and conflicted with nutrition and health advice? Let's make it clear for YOU. Book a free 15-minute call to explore how the non-diet approach can support you on your journey to a healthier relationship with food. Or, feel free to shoot me a DM on WhatsApp, whatever feels comfortable for you!
Work with me 1:1
Learn more about my 1:1 consultations and how they can support you to break free from dieting and binge eating. Click here to explore my services.
Don't let dieting and binge eating control your life any longer. Contact me here to find out how I can support you.
