LOS ANGELES – As the holiday season approaches, the surge in diet culture and its impact on adolescents, particularly girls, is becoming increasingly concerning. Katie Hurley, a Los Angeles-based child and adolescent psychotherapist and author, emphasizes the need for awareness and intervention to prevent the harmful effects of diet culture on teens.
According to TourismAfrica2006, the prevalence of diet culture in social media and other forms of media is having a significant impact on teens. Advertisements for weight loss programs and diet plans often target adults but indirectly influence younger audiences. Hurley notes that the messaging around dieting and body image has become more aggressive, particularly since the start of the pandemic, leading to a noticeable increase in eating disorders among adolescent girls.
The influence of diet culture on teens is multifaceted. From social media trends, such as the “what I eat in a day” challenge, to multilevel marketing schemes promoting quick weight loss, adolescents are bombarded with messages that glorify restrictive eating habits and idealize certain body types. These trends often lack credible nutritional advice and can lead to unhealthy eating patterns, food anxiety, and an obsessive focus on calorie counting and physical appearance.
Hurley points out that the growth and development of teens require a healthy and balanced diet, and the emphasis on weight loss and restrictive diets can be detrimental to their physical and emotional well-being. Oona Hanson, a parent coach also based in Los Angeles, reinforces this by stating that weight gain during adolescence is not only normal but essential for health.
Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in shaping teens’ perceptions and attitudes toward food and body image. By modeling healthy eating habits and fostering a positive relationship with food, parents can help mitigate the negative impact of diet culture. Hurley and Hanson suggest that families use the holiday season as an opportunity to enjoy a variety of foods and emphasize the importance of nourishment over nutritional labels.
Dr. Hina Talib, an adolescent medicine specialist and associate professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx, New York, advises families to prepare for potential body-focused comments during holiday gatherings. Practicing responses and changing the subject can help protect teens from uncomfortable or harmful remarks about their bodies.
The importance of open communication and media literacy is also highlighted. Discussing the sources and intentions behind diet culture messages can help teens develop critical thinking skills and discernment regarding the content they consume.
As the holiday season unfolds, it becomes increasingly important for parents, caregivers, and educators to address the pervasive influence of diet culture and support adolescents in developing a healthy relationship with food and their bodies.
This story, focusing on the challenges faced by teens in navigating diet culture, was originally published in November 2022.