The Link Between Seasonal Diet Culture and Eating Disorder Symptoms
As we enter the warmest months of the year, messaging promoting “healthy” behavioral change also rises. It could be from a family member, relative, or friend sharing what they are doing differently for the summer, or the diet culture promotions delivering messages, such as:
- “Beach Body Ready”
- “Summer Slim-Down”
- “Quick Fix Cleanses”
These campaigns make you believe that your body is a problem, and so that the products/diet that they are marketing will be a “quick fix” for that problem, which are quite often presented on social media. The social media pages are filled with bodies, diets, workout routines, and hacks for “achieving the bikini body”. Without recognizing it, comparison could be a reflex response to those content hinting at us that the body is never “enough” and the constant need to “perfect” it.
In addition to the “getting ready for summer” messages, this is also a season of social events –such as weddings, vacations, rooftop parties, and beach trips. There is the pressure of having a specific type of body to “look good” on these occasions. Similar to comparison that occurred from consuming social media content, social events are spaces and opportunities for diet or body talk to happen, triggering automatic comparison and the need to fit in.
Comparison could disconnect us from our body’s needs and bring in inner criticism, which can all lead to increased eating disorder symptoms and increased risk of relapse during warmer months. Dietitians for eating disorders can support you in navigating the pressures of summer while nourishing your body adequately.
Early Signs You Should Reach Out to an Eating Disorder Dietitian
If you’re experiencing any of the below, it may be a sign that it’s worth reaching out for support from a registered dietitian specializing in eating disorders.
- Increased food obsession: If you are spending big chunks of time and mental space thinking about foods, obsessing over next meals or snacks, debating on food choices, you may benefit from speaking with an eating disorder dietitian, who could provide support for consistent nourishment throughout the day and for reducing food noises.
- Avoiding social situations involving food: Turning down party invites or gatherings due to anxiety and stress eating with others? An eating disorder dietitian, along with support from a therapist, could help you incorporate strategies to navigate social eating and identify foods that you feel comfortable eating in public and ensure nourishment before and after the event.
- Excessive exercise or body checking: During warmer months, we are putting away sweaters and coats and opting for T-shirts, shorts, and clothing that are exposing more skin. It becomes easier for body checking behavior to re-emerge–checking reflections or obsessing with certain body parts–as well as increased pressure to achieve the “summer body” through exercise. Dietitians for eating disorders can help identify intentions of movement other than body changes and navigate body image distress with its impact on nourishing yourself.
- Anxiety around weight gain: The constant messaging of having a “beach-ready body” plays as a catalyst for anxiety around weight gain and body changes. While being on vacations and attending more social obligations, eating patterns that are different from your normal routine could also feel uncomfortable, which comes with the fear of weight gain when you are not “tracking foods.” A registered dietitian specialized in eating disorders could help debunk myths around weight changes and provide nutrition guidance for overall wellbeing rather than focusing solely on weight.
How Registered Dietitians in NYC Support Recovery During Summer
A registered dietitian specializing in eating disorders in NYC plays an important role as part of the recovery journey. In nutrition therapy, a RD can support you in stabilizing eating patterns and consistently nourishing yourself in an enjoyable way. The meal structures are flexible to accommodate vacations and changing schedules, along with the support to navigate stressful situations that involve eating in social events. Nutrition counseling with a dietitian can also provide exposure to fear foods, starting with small and realistic goals to challenge food judgments that stem diet culture. Additionally, dietitians for eating disorders offer supporting strategies to navigate body image challenges in the summer.
What to Expect From Nutrition Counseling in NYC
Nutrition counseling in NYC starts with initial assessments for dietitians at Nourishing NY to learn about your story, as well as setting goals to start paving your healing journey. With a collaborative team approach, an ED dietitian sees you as an essential part of the care team for personalized care based on you and your lifestyle–meeting where you are at instead of giving a cookie-cutter solution. The team of eating disorder dietitians at Nourishing NY will also collaborate with the rest of your care team, including therapist, doctor, and/or psychiatrist to ensure different aspects of your recovery are taken care of. We understand that recovery is not linear and are here to provide long-term support, with the goal of helping you feel more confident navigating food flexibility and other challenges on your own.
Finding Dietitians NYC Who Align With Recovery-Focused Care
When finding dietitians for eating disorders that fits your need for recovery, here may be some questions to ask the provider to ensure recovery-focused care:
- What experience do you have treating eating disorders/disordered eating?
- What is your approach with weight and body image?
- How do you approach managing co-occurring conditions, such as PCOS, diabetes, or high cholesterol?
- Do you provide care coordination with therapists or doctors?
It is also important to look for practices from a Health at Every Size (HAES) perspective to ensure weight-inclusive care, as well as providers’ experiences working with intuitive eating for an all-food-fits approach.
Of course, accessibility to healthcare is at the heart of Nourishing NY, and we understand that financial considerations could be a barrier to your recovery. That’s why at Nourishing NY, we accept most major insurance: Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Healthfirst, United Healthcare, and some Medicaid plans. Our team will complete an insurance benefits check for you, so you know your benefits ahead of time. Recovery is collaborative team work, and the team of eating disorder dietitians at Nourishing NY are here to be a part of your journey along with you and your care team.