cryptiq

a surefire way to make ppl neurotic about food is to tell them they must fully assess their emotional and physical state (not really separate things) anytime they feel an impulse to eat, in order to determine whether it’s “real” hunger. this interrupts the natural flow from biological cue to corresponding behavior and disconnects us from our hunger. not only disconnects us, but makes us distrustful of our bodies’ messages and needs. the underlying assumption in this kind of “technique” is ofc that the body cannot be trusted… a message that leads to all kinds of emotional and biological chaos
don’t do this to other ppl, and especially don’t do it to kids. you think it will regulate their eating? it will do just the opposite, creating anxiety around food & the body’s basic needs and leading to patterns of restriction and bingeing, as well as creating a dangerous instinct to ignore interoceptive data (i’m hungry, i’m tired, i’m uncomfortable, i’m unsafe, etc.). even when this kind of second-guessing is encouraged in a haes context (or book, *eyes emoji*), it’s a precept of diet culture and it’s seriously damaging.

(via consolecadet)

#eating disorders