[This blog post was originally published in 2012 and updated September 6, 2024.]

Diet culture has become the norm. It’s infused in the way we speak (“I’ve earned this piece of cake,” “You’re so self-disciplined!”) and in the way we behave (restricting or fasting after eating a large meal, trying to lose weight to attain a “beach body”). Eating disorders are on the rise, with a 107.4% increase in eating disorder diagnoses for Americans under 18 between 2018–2022 (Trilliant Health, 2023). What are ...