Taffy Brodesser-Akner, known for her insightful celebrity profiles, the best-selling novel Fleishman Is in Trouble, and the Emmy-nominated FX series of the same name, delves into the complexities of weight loss, body image, and the evolving wellness industry. Brodesser-Akner's work often explores the tension between messiness and the facade of order, a theme that extends to her examination of diet culture and the anti-diet movement.
The Anti-Diet Movement: A Critical Look
In her New York Times piece, "Losing It In The Anti-Dieting Age," Brodesser-Akner investigates the shifts within the diet industry sparked by the rise of the "anti-diet movement." She astutely points out that modifying one's body doesn't necessarily contradict self-acceptance, and conversely, promoting acceptance shouldn't inherently oppose change. The core of the body-acceptance movement lies not only in recognizing the beauty of diverse body types but also in acknowledging individuals' autonomy to make choices about their bodies that foster self-acceptance.
The pressure to constantly love oneself can inadvertently shame those who choose to modify their bodies as part of their self-acceptance journey. While diet culture can enforce a singular ideal body type, leading to harmful stereotypes, an extreme embrace of body positivity can also invalidate individual choices.
Brodesser-Akner highlights the limitations some women have felt due to the current movement for body positivity. Oprah Winfrey, for instance, acknowledges the connection between her family’s health complications and her weight. She says, “I can’t accept myself if I’m over [X] pounds, because it’s too much work on my heart. It causes high blood pressure for me."
The Wellness Industry: A $3.7 Trillion Giant
The concept of wellness has exploded into a $3.7 trillion industry. Rather than focusing on a specific goal weight, wellness emphasizes "feeling strong" and "eating clean," often while adhering to the same calorie-restrictive practices of the past. The change in language around weight loss is largely superficial. Beneath the veneer of health and "moving beyond the scale" lies the same obsession with thinness.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
Brodesser-Akner explored the relationship between modern dieting and the new-age language and thought process surrounding weight loss. As the author put it, "What was Oprah, a person whose very brand meant enlightenment and progress, doing on another diet?" She continued, "So all of the people who are saying, 'Oh, I need to accept myself as I am'- I can't accept myself if I'm over 200 pounds, because it's too much work on my heart. It causes high blood pressure for me.” Winfrey maintains that you can straddle the new line between being confident and being healthy. "This whole P.C. about accepting yourself as you are-you should, 100 percent," she said. However, Weight Watchers, for her, is ‘‘a mechanism to keep myself on track that brings a level of consciousness and awareness to my eating."
The Allure and Pitfalls of Detoxification
Brodesser-Akner also explores the world of detoxification, a realm filled with innovative treatments promising optimal health. She recounts her experiences with various detox methods, including V-steams, hot rock treatments, and even an aborted attempt at a vitamin infusion.
She notes that the true impetus for detoxification seems to be a mistrust of the way the human body actually works, with natural systems getting overridden so that nutrients and herbs and tea and light and wishes can get inside you through avenues that weren’t necessarily meant to accommodate those things. It seems that the further we go with fancy and intricate treatments, the more we’re engaging in a ritual effort to make ourselves pure again.
Brodesser-Akner describes her pilgrimage to We Care Spa, an oasis in the desert offering liquid diets, colonics, and various other treatments. She highlights the considerable amount of time spent talking about poop, using words like "eliminate" and "release."
While some find these treatments beneficial, others question their medical validity. Dr. Albert Fuchs, an internist, points out that many things that feel good don't necessarily have medical benefits. He suggests that such treatments can be viewed as entertainment.
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?
Trauma and the Body
Brodesser-Akner's reflections on trauma also intersect with her exploration of the body. She shares a powerful idea: "This happened to your body. This didn't happen to you." This notion, initially shared by someone who had been raped, prompts Brodesser-Akner to consider its implications for her own experiences, particularly in the birthing room.
She also explores the idea that trauma isn’t just a thing that happens to you. It’s the thing you are primed for, combined with the thing that happens to you.
Personal Journeys: Weight Loss and Lifestyle Changes
One individual's account of weight loss offers a contrasting perspective. This person, who had struggled with weight gain and yo-yo dieting for years, decided to pursue the Virta approach, a low-carb method that restricts daily carb intake to 30g.
The cost of doing this has been a profound and (I earnestly hope) permanent change in my lifestyle. Eating, particularly going out to eat, while manageable (due to the actionable suggestions Virta offers), is far less pleasant than it used to be, the menu choices far more constrained. I loved pasta, loved bagels, loved pastries, loved ice cream, and I’ve chosen to forsake all of these, forever, because I think a key success factor has been avoiding all simple carbs, so you don’t head down that slippery slope.
The Fragility of Goldendoodles (and Humans)
In a lighter moment, Brodesser-Akner touches on the fragility of goldendoodles, revealing that her own dog is allergic to everything and thrives on a kangaroo-based diet. This anecdote serves as a metaphor for the delicate balance required to maintain well-being, whether it's a dog's diet or a person's approach to health and self-acceptance.
Read also: Inspiring Health Transformation
Avoiding Career Obsession: Staying Present in the Moment
Brodesser-Akner cautions against becoming too focused on one's career, emphasizing the importance of staying present in the moment and approaching each project with enthusiasm and desperation to fix problems. She fears that thinking of a project as "just another document" can diminish the energy and passion required for success.