For decades, the wellness industry sold us a terrible lie. It told us that to be "well," we must first be thin. It insisted that discipline looked like deprivation, and that self-love was something you had to earn by burning enough calories.
If you are happy with your body, you won’t buy the detox tea, the waist trainer, or the 28-day shred program. Mainstream wellness requires a problem (your fat, your wrinkles, your cellulite) to sell a solution. A Day Of Sailing Naturist 52m20s .avi.007 15
Furthermore, research shows that weight stigma (discrimination against fat people) actually causes worse health outcomes. When fat people avoid doctors due to shame, or engage in yo-yo dieting (which is metabolically destructive), their health declines. Body positivity removes the stigma so people can actually engage in wellness behaviors without shame. The response: Wanting to change your body is not the enemy. The problem is requiring change to feel worthy. For decades, the wellness industry sold us a terrible lie
Research in behavioral psychology consistently shows that shame is a terrible motivator. While fear or disgust might kickstart a diet, those emotions are not sustainable. Eventually, the body rebels against the punishment, leading to binge cycles, burnout, and weight regain. If you are happy with your body, you
The intersection of is simple: You are allowed to take care of a body you don't entirely love.
This leads to a phenomenon called —taking the language of health to disguise weight loss culture. You see it in social media posts that say, "Get healthy this summer!" (translation: shrink your body) or "Clean eating for wellness" (translation: severe food restriction).