Our bodies continue to change throughout our entire lifetime.
During infancy (birth to 1 year of age), we grow faster than during any other point in our lives. At 1-3 years of age, our body structures generally have the highest percent body fat; whereas at 4-6 years of age, our body structures generally have the lowest percent body fat (than during any other point in our lives).
As adolescents, we see surges in hormones and growth rates erupting once again. These changes have major effects on eating habits that may linger later in life. Likewise, teenagers tend to experience high amounts of peer-pressure , which also influences food intake, food choices, and food behaviors.
Our bodies require adequate calories and nutrition on a day-to-day basis to actually have any benefit towards our long-term health.
If we do not consume enough calories, protein, or any other nutrient, we are much less likely to thrive, function at full capacity, and meet the goals we are expecting to achieve.
Sadly, diet culture continues to promise astounding results from weight loss programs and misinformation, which drastically increases the likelihood of disordered eating.
This is important to share to the public because diet culture targets younger generations in attempt to form early dieting habits that last a lifetime. The kicker is - if we are not eating enough for our body, then weight loss programs and or diets are not beneficial whatsoever (in fact, many of them are harmful).
Just like modeling, sports performance, design, fashion, or supplementation, diet culture and weight loss programs are also considered multifaceted industries.
Diet culture tends to market what the public wants to hear. That is why there are so many new “diets” or health programs being created daily. As you may have heard before, diet culture thrives of off failure, as restriction is not sustainable nor realistic. Once one diet or food behavior is dropped, another is almost guaranteed to replace it.
And there you have it – the cycle of diet culture.
Truth be told, health promotion is not be centered around dieting or restriction at all. Likewise, for the general public, recommendations do NOT include: limiting calories, avoiding food groups, using smoothies for meals, eating only between certain hours, etc. (unless medically necessary).
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