How the Diet Industry Profits from Your Insecurities
It’s time we talk about something that might make a few people uncomfortable. But honestly, it’s a conversation that’s long overdue. Here it is: the diet industry profits off your insecurity. Yep, I said it. And deep down, I think most of us already know it, but it’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when we’ve spent years—maybe even decades (that’s me!) —chasing after the promises they sell.
Let’s take a step back for a moment and think about it. Have you ever noticed how the diet industry operates? It’s a multi-billion-dollar machine that feeds off our fears and doubts. It tells us that we’re not good enough as we are—that we need to be thinner, smaller, more toned, and less…well, less of who we actually are. And they’re incredibly good at it!! They’ve mastered the art of making us feel like we need to change, and conveniently, they have just the product, program, or plan to help us do it. But here’s the catch: the goalposts are always moving.
Remember that time you thought, “If I could just lose those last 10 pounds, I’d be happy”? Or, “If I could fit into that dress, I’d finally feel confident”? The diet industry is banking on those thoughts. They want you to believe that your happiness, your worth, your entire sense of self is wrapped up in your appearance. Because as long as you believe that, you’ll keep coming back for more.
And really, has any diet ever actually made you feel good about yourself in the long term? I’m not talking about that brief moment of triumph when you see a lower number on the scale. I’m talking about genuine, lasting self-love and acceptance. The kind that doesn’t waver when you eat a piece of cake at a birthday party or skip a workout because you’re just too tired.
Here’s the real truth:
DIETS ARE DESIGNED TO FAIL YOU.
They create this never-ending loop where you lose weight, gain it back (and most oftentimes more), and then feel more crappy about yourself than before. And guess what? That’s exactly what keeps the diet industry thriving.
Now, I’m not saying that caring about your health and wanting to feel good in your body is a bad thing. Of course, it’s not. But the key here is intention. Are you making choices from a place of self-love, or from a place of self-criticism? Are you eating that salad because you genuinely enjoy it and it makes you feel nourished, or because you’re afraid of what will happen if you don’t?
The diet industry doesn’t want you to ask these questions. They don’t want you to realize that you can trust your body, that you can enjoy food without obsessing over calories, and that you can move in ways that bring you joy rather than punishment. They don’t want you to know that you’re already enough, exactly as you are, because if you believe that, you won’t need them anymore. Remember that scene in Bridget Jones’s Diary?:
“…I like you very much. Just as you are.”
This is what we need to be telling ourselves daily. But we don’t, because we don’t look like a 5’10 fit model influencer who has a completely different genetic blueprint than us. Yet, we are constantly being reminded by the diet industry that we are less beautiful because we don’t fit into her size 2 jeans. It’s exhausting!
So, what can we do about it? We can start by challenging the messages we’ve been fed for so long. We can reject the idea that our worth is tied to our weight or our ability to stick to a diet. We can embrace intuitive eating which is all about tuning into your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues, eating what you truly enjoy, and letting go of the guilt that diet culture has instilled in us.
And let’s not forget about movement. Exercise shouldn’t be a punishment for what we’ve eaten or a way to earn our next meal. It should be something that makes us feel alive, strong, and joyful. Whether it’s dancing in your living room, morning yoga, going for a walk in the park, or hitting the gym because it genuinely makes you feel good—do what feels right for you, not what the diet industry tells you you’re supposed to do.