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21 Instagram Accounts That Bust Diet Culture

By
February 25, 2019

This is what we’d like to do to diet culture.

via GIPHY

And we are BY FAR not alone in this fight. There are a ton of amazing people who we listen to, read, follow, and generally want to high-five every darn day. We’ve already shared a few resources on what diet culture is and how “fit” doesn’t look a certain way, and we’ve had some awesome podcast guests discuss it, too. We’ll be sharing even more resources in the weeks to come, but here are 21 of our fave anti-diet accounts to follow on Instagram.

Each of them drop non-dieting truths almost on the daily. And if you’re ready to say buh-bye to diet culture and get your feed full of truly empowering and healthy minded content, give them all a follow! (And, while you’re at it, maybe take a look at who else you’re following to make sure they’re sharing a message you truly want to hear.)

via GIPHY

NSFW caution: Some Instagram accounts do a fair amount of cursing (sometimes even in the account name). We’re cool with this — but you know — be aware.

@kristamurias

@mynameisjessamyn

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I’m one of the most jaded people ever but this @oldnavy campaign featuring me, @noelledowning, & @katiehwillcox actually managed to charm my inner Daria Morgendorfer*. When brands ask how to provide better representation in the curvy fitness arena, I always say “LITERALLY FAT GIRLS JUST WANT TO GO TO THE SAME STORES AS OUR THIN FRIENDS AND GET THE EXACT SAME CLOTHES THAT’S IT NO ADJUSTMENTS THE EXACT SAME THING. STOP PULLING THAT ‘FAT GIRLS ONLY WANT POTATO SACKS’ DISCRIMINATORY MESS SO WE CAN ALL HAVE FUN, OK.” IMHO the representation shown in this gif is the standard that all fitness brands should seek. Nothing more, nothing less. To be fair, @oldnavy has long since been a spot for finding curvy athletic wear- time for everyone else to catch-up. I’ll have much more to show from this new collection in the coming weeks and you can see more RIGHT NOW on @oldnavy’s IG but I couldn’t help posting this one because it so clearly exhibits what I can only hope is the beginning of a major shift in the fitness industry. *What am I saying? I’m way more of a Jane. #daria

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@jennifer_rollin

@virgietovar

@rebeccascritchfield

@antidietlife

@iamlshauntay

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This is what I think some of you see when I workout. Today I wanted to show you how I multitask. I can do kettlebell catches, flip you off and eat Cheetos. Look ma: No hands! On a serious note, someone was so "concerned" for me that she ripped yesterday's workout video and told her platform that she 'feared' the shock that my 'advanced workouts' would place on my fat body. To add insult to injury, her platform offered their condolences on my 'weight loss journey' because evidently my portion sizes are too big. And when I tried to talk with her, she blocked me. Listen, I have years of drinking online doctor's tears on the rocks and they've been the most useless calories that ever drunk in my life. The flavor in that drink is salty and wreaks of chlorine, honey. Here's what I need for the obesity crime stoppers task force to do: Mind 👏🏾 Your 👏🏾 Goddamn👏🏾 Business👏🏾 My three pack is flossy AF. My back fat is bedazzled. My legs are delicious. My ass is tenacious. Stop monitoring my BMI and I'll try to not play Dr. Seuss, Dr. Oz or Iyanla Vanzant with your insecurities. Get a glass of water, add some cucumber and mint to it and detox your thoughts. I owe you no sob stories about my weight not am I interested in your opinion. From fat people who share this same sentiment everywhere, take your advice, fold it into an airplane and fly it to your promised land. And spare me the be the bigger person commentary. We are tired of your advice. Aren't some of you still singing about it being a new year, new me? Consider working on yourself as a new year's resolution. When we focus on our own growth, we don't try to bring others down for an ego boost. I'm unfortunately semi desensitized to this debate but others have literally committed suicide from this form of bullying. Cut the shit. Change starts with you. P.S. Leave the plate that you didn't see in my video out of the conversation. #runningfatchef #fatrunner #fatwomenofcolor #fatshaming #mindyourbusiness #loveyourself #lovewhatmatters #themoreyouknow #yourewelcome #haveagoodday #haveaseat #fuckitfriday

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@GeneenRoth

@thecrankytherapist

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Representation is really fucking important and really fucking necessary. Read this, and follow my pal, @foodandthefeels! . 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 . #Repost @foodandthefeels (@get_repost) ・・・ While the face of eating disorders in film/television has typically been a thin white woman, eating disorders and other mental health illnesses occur in ALL genders, body shapes, and races- they don’t discriminate. The mental health conversation is finally starting in western cultures; however, in some cultures- it’s still ignored, stigmatized, and associated with shame. Growing up, I’ve witnessed/firsthand experienced the immense pressure Asian parents place on their children to perform a certain way while looking a certain way. In the same breath of “eat all of your food” came “don’t get fat.” I saw mental health illnesses ignored until it became too severe not to acknowledge. Even then, it wasn’t talked about. One does not bring dishonor and shame to a family for being sick. Being sick does not equate being weak- it’s being human. I’ve spent a lot of time educating families of all races about eating disorders and how it is a real disease. Many clients and families of different cultures don’t understand why treatment needs to be a higher priority than school/work/life. I sometimes describe it as “if your loved one had cancer, would you ask them to go to school/just get over it?” An illness of the mind is just as impairing and real as an illness of the body. As an Indian American ED dietitian, I think its absolutely necessary we as ED professionals can do a better job of understanding both sides to better treatment. Many immigrant families have worked immensely hard for a better life for their children. School/a better life/work can be seen as more important than a disease they don’t understand. Helping families and clients understand the bigger picture, removing the stigma, and also validating that eating disorders are a real disease. While I don’t love the movies/shows out there that have discussed eating disorders for various reasons, I do hope one day ALL populations will be represented.

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@bodyimagewithbri

@healingcrayons

@kristenmurrayrd

@evelyntribole

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One of my biggest frustrations with diet culture is that it has hijacked healthcare professionals (including many folks in my profession). This has resulted in a profound paradigm blindness for the pursuit of weight loss in the name of health. ⁣ ⁣ I believe we are witnessing a modern day "Semmelweis Reflex", which is a rejection of new evidence because it contradicts established norms, beliefs, or paradigms. This cultural reflex is named after the physician who discovered that patients’ lives could be saved, if doctors washed their hands. But Dr. Semmelweis was summarily dismissed and scoffed at by his medical colleagues for his preposterous idea! He was later proven right, after his death.⁣ ⁣ I often ask physicians this question: “Would you prescribe a medication that didn’t work and actually caused more harm and unnecessary suffering? Like, would you recommend an asthma inhaler that works in the first year, but then ends up causing hyperventilation, rebound asthma attacks, and ultimately damaged the lungs? And then blame the patient?⁣ ⁣ The typical response is an incredulous, “of course not.” Yet, if dieting was held to the same standards as prescription drugs, it would fail miserably, and wouldn’t even be approved for use, in the first place! Study after study shows—that dieting or food restriction for the purpose of weight loss is not effective in the long, not sustainable, and moreover causes harm—-even if it’s prescribed by a physician or dietitian! ⁣ ⁣ The pursuit of weight loss in the name of health perpetuates weight stigma and weight cycling, increases the risk of eating disorders, and harms a person’s relationship with food, mind, and body.⁣ ⁣ It’s time to shift the conversation. Here are two excellent papers that address the casualties from the pursuit of weight loss⁣: ⁣ O’ Hara L and Taylor J. (2018) What’s Wrong with War on Obesity? . SAGE Open: Apr-June: 1-28. doi.org/10.1177/2158244018772888⁣ ⁣ Rothblum E. (2018). Slim Chance for Permanent Weight Loss. Archives of Scientific Psychology:6, 63–69. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/arc0000043

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@flawednutrition

@annamarie.rd

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Intuitive eating is all about honoring your hunger. Diet culture wants us to believe that we can’t be hungry if we just ate. A common diet rule is when you feel hungry, you’re just thirsty. So drink some water. Or try chewing gum. Nutrition fact: hunger and thirst receptors are completely different! If you start to feel hungry, it’s because you are hungry. Not because you’re thirsty. . Honor your hunger and respect your fullness. If you’re not full after a meal, it won’t be long before you feel hungry again. It’s biology. . How are you honoring your hunger and rejecting the diet mentality today? . #intuitiveeating #honoryourhunger #rejectthedietmentality #ditchthediet #respectyourfullness #weightinclusive #registereddietitian #registereddietitianapproved #haes #healthateverysize #haesrd #eddietitian #dietitian #antidiet #nondiet

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@TheFuckItDiet

@300poundsandrunning

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I may be big, slow, and fat. I’m a runner because I run.

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@wildferncounseling

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Sharing this old favorite today because diet culture doesn’t get to claim all movement! . What’s your favorite way to honor your body with #joyfulmovement? What do you love about it? How do you know when it’s time to stop? . These days I’ve been trying to reconnect with my old hobby of rock climbing because @uncgrecwell has an amazing, free facility for students. I love how bouldering is like solving a puzzle, and I have to take lots of breaks to stretch, rest, and plan my next moves. It’s a form of moving that requires me to slow down, listen to my body, not overdo it, and take plenty of days off.🧗🏼‍♀️ . So, how can you celebrate what your body can do today? Even if it’s just breathing. 💕 . #haes #healthateverysize #intuitiveeating #effyourfitspo #effyourbeautystandards #edrecovery #riotsnotdiets #thebodyisnotanapology #fatpositive #fatacceptance #allbodiesaregoodbodies #bodypositive #bodypositivity #bopo #bopowarrior #joyfulmovement #mindfulmovement #rockclimbing #rockclimbingwomen

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@thebodypositive

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#repost from @drclaudiatfelty Diet culture is everywhere. Some is obvious, like the magazine on the left, but some diet culture is much more sneaky. My niece jumped into my bed first thing this morning and asked me to read her a book. Sleepy eyed and tired I started to read her the story to quickly realize I was going to have to skip pages and create my own story line. This seemingly harmless kids’ book 📚 is filled with body shame, prejudice against larger bodies, and food fear and shame. Memories of how this book made me feel guilt and shame around my body are now starting to flood back. It blows my mind how they come right back even though I haven’t seen this book for 30+ years. What we learn as kids, we take with us as adults. My niece will not see this book again. [photo description: on the left side a picture of The Complete Guide to Diets That Work with the label Diet Culture on the top and on the right side, a children’s book titled The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food with the label Also Diet Culture on the top] #ReclaimHealth #CultivateSelfLove #DeclareYourOwnAuthenticBeauty #BuildCommunity #5CoreCompetencies #TheBodyPositive #BeBodyPositive #LoveYourBody #LiveYourLife #Embody #LoseHateNotWeight #bopo #bodypositive #selflove #selfcare #authenticbeauty #feminism #bodylove #bodyacceptance #confidence #selflovebringsbeauty #effyourbeautystandards #bodypositivity #intuition #intuitiveeating #bodyliberation #haes

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@ownitbabe

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Have you ever felt like your body is the only thing you have to offer to the world? Like, your worth as a human being depends on how good you are at shrinking yourself/staying small? Yeah, me too. It’s difficult to be alive in 2019 and not feel this way. 🙈 This message (your body = your worth) is all around us, so we have to actively choose to think differently about our bodies and ourselves as a whole. ♥️ If I can teach you one single thing, one takeaway from following this account, it’s this: You are so much more than your body. Your body is not an ornament. It is the vessel that allows you to live your life. Okay, that was technically 3 things 😂 But they go hand in hand. The one thing I know for sure is that our bodies are f*cking amazing. They do so much for us. So, maybe, just maybe, we can learn to actually thank them. We can learn to see them as our friend and take care of them, not punish them. We can finally stop trying to fulfill some unrealistic expectations that are placed on us by an industry that benefits from our insecurities. 🙌🏻 You are more than a body 😘 . . . ____________________________________________ #selflove #bodyappreciation #gratitude #kindnessquotes #womenempoweringwomen #selfacceptance #edrecovery #foodfreedom #intuitiveeating #healthynothungry #youareabadass

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@FitBottomedGirl

What anti-diet Instagram accounts do you follow? –Jenn

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