My hate towards diet culture (TW: €D)

Hello!

(This is my first post at my blog, pls I’m still trying to figure out how to use this website)

Ok back to the topic

   First of all, I need to provide some context for this title. Unfortunately, I happened to look at a social media and came across a post where someone was asking: 

“Why do people gather to eat at celebrations? Couldn't we do something else?”

    And on top of that, this person started making various fatphobic comments about people who simply enjoy eating at events!!!1!

    And this pissed me off so BAD. And the worst of all, there’s people agreeing with this take? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s like the same of claiming that you’re totally brainwashed by diet culture and now you can only see food as a bunch of calories without directly saying that.  I feel two different sensations: anger at someone wanting to share such a toxic and distorted thought with others, and sadness for that same person. How can you not have other perspectives on food? Sharing food is perhaps a universal experience, and portraying that act as something that might possibly add a few pounds to your weight is ridiculous.

    To me, it’s honestly sad how the ozepedemic had reached a point where some people forgot that food don’t carry only calories and nutrients, but also affection, memories, it strengthens bonds, it helps us to socialize, and that has been done through generations, eating in group means the abundance of what can be shared. That’s why certain foods can be nostalgic to someone, it can hold memories. Of course, no hate to that person, I know how that feels like, individuals like this deserve understanding and patience, but it is quite wrong to ignore the context that has been passed down through generations for centuries; it is part of how human beings build a sense of community.    

    And you know what’s worst to me? To know that this mindset is not only from media, or the magazines, but also from home, from friends, for socializing. All the fat “jokes”, all the bullying, all the constant competitive behavior on who’s skinnier, is one of the things that makes me even more frustrated, because it’s rooted in our society, and it’s not a mindset that we all can collectively reset so easily. I hope that one day this person frees themselves from this toxic mindset and stops spreading prejudice against other body types. Honestly, I think everyone should take a moment for self-reflection and ask themselves: "What does food mean to me? And why do I associate food with that meaning?" It says a lot on how you were socialized to have this specific relationship with food.

    This was a pretty short rant, but I wanted to share this, and hear thoughts of other people about this topic!