Ways We Get Body Positivity All Wrong - Page 4

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Not telling the whole truth

Sometimes you will see conventionally fit individuals post photos of themselves with a giant box of donuts or platter of nachos, claiming that they eat donuts and nachos every day. The intention behind the post is good, which is to state that you can still eat foods you enjoy and be in good shape. But there is unintentional harm being done: they are perpetuating the idea that they eat a whole box of donuts or a whole mountain of nachos, every single day, all to themselves. In reality in most cases (it’s not true for all), that individual may eat a single donut a day, or share a giant mountain of nachos with three friends. The danger behind not telling that whole truth is that onlookers might get the idea, “I can eat 15 donuts a day and be in shape,” and then, when they do exactly that, and put on weight, they will believe something is wrong with them. Portion control and moderation are a factor when it comes to heavy foods. Not everybody’s body responds the same way to certain foods. If we don’t tell these whole truths, we can inspire unhealthy habits in others, and set up unrealistic expectations.