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Posts on body positivity have been floating around social media as pushback to diet culture. These messages encourage folks to fall and stay in love with their bodies, regardless of what they look and feel like.
Still, body shame is prevalent and has tangible effects. That means the pressure to feel great about your body each and every day may feel unattainable.
When we talk about bodies, health, and nutrition, it can feel hard to be stuck between forced positivity or shame coming from healthcare professionals.
To break down the concept of body neutrality and learn about its importance, read on to hear from health and body image experts.
Ask the experts: ‘What does body neutrality mean to you?’
Shana Spence RDN, CDN of Nutrition Tea: It’s the understanding that we are not always going to love our bodies for various reasons, but we should have a respect for them.
Nutrition Therapist and Intuitive Eating Counselor Ayana Habtemariam MSW, RD, LDN of Truly Real Nutrition: Life just comes with transitions and so do our bodies. [They’re] meant to evolve. We have to make an effort and find a way to adjust.
Dalina Soto, MA, RD, LDN of Your Latina Nutrition: It’s important for everyone to know that you won’t love your body every day, and that’s okay. You still need to nourish it and take care of it.
Jessi Kneeland, author and body neutrality coach: Given the world we live in, I do genuinely believe the mentality [of body neutrality] is our birthright. It’s just seeing your body for what it is.
Missing a part of the conversation
Shana Spence, RDN, CDN, of Nutrition Tea says that the body positivity movement has taken notes from the fat acceptance movement, but left behind important intersections.
This means it’s failing to champion the folks who need the most support.
“Body positivity has really become a movement for thin women who have belly rolls when bending over,” says Spence, a self-proclaimed “eat anything” dietitian who pushes against food restriction and body shaming.
“It’s a far cry from the movement that fat black women started which was about bringing to light actual weight stigma and discrimination that those in larger bodies face,” she says.
Of course, your personal approach to nurturing your body is completely up to you.
Still, it’s important to recognize that pushing a general and total body positivity perspective does nothing to address the stigma that folks in larger bodiesTrusted Source face.
This discrimination is amplified for those who are BIPOC, disabled, neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, or any other marginalized identity.
“You can’t self-love your way out of the way society treats you.”
— Shana Spence, RDN, CDN
