Eating Disorders and the New Year

Source: Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

As the clock strikes midnight on January 1, many people find themselves inundated with messages about setting resolutions, “shedding holiday weight,” and starting the year with a “fresh new body." For individuals with eating disorders or a complicated relationship with food and body image, this annual cultural phenomenon can feel suffocating and triggering. Societal pressure to align health and happiness with weight loss not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but can also be a significant barrier to recovery and self-acceptance.

The Problem With Weight-Centric Resolutions

The diet culture narrative is pervasive this time of year, saturating advertisements, social media, and conversations among friends and family. Messages like “New Year, New You” imply that who we are right now is inherently flawed and that fixing ourselves begins with losing weight. These narratives are rooted in weight stigma—the false belief that a smaller body is always healthier or more desirable.

For individuals with eating disorders, this messaging can amplify feelings of shame, inadequacy, and guilt. It often encourages behaviors like restricting food intake, overexercising, or obsessively tracking calories—behaviors that may align with disordered eating or relapse for those in recovery.

Why Weight Loss Pressure Is Harmful

1. Promotes Disordered Eating. Research shows that dieting is a significant predictor of eating disorders. A focus on weight loss can push people toward harmful behaviors under the guise of “health.”
2. Overlooks True Health. Health is multifaceted, including mental, emotional, and social well-being. Focusing on weight as the ultimate indicator of health dismisses the complexity of individual needs.
3. Excludes Body Diversity. Not all bodies are meant to look the same. Promoting one narrow ideal of health ignores the beauty and strength of diverse body shapes, sizes, and abilities.
4. Triggers Relapse. For individuals in recovery from an eating disorder, societal weight-loss messaging can rekindle old thought patterns and behaviors, jeopardizing the hard work they’ve put into healing.

Shifting the Narrative

Instead of succumbing to diet culture, the new year can be an opportunity to explore goals that genuinely support your well-being without tying them to your body’s size or shape. Here’s how we can shift the narrative:

1. Focus on What Brings Joy. Ask yourself, “What activities, hobbies, or practices bring me joy?” These can be goals to prioritize, whether it’s learning a new skill, spending more time with loved ones, or simply savoring quiet moments of self-care.
2. Set Non-Diet Health Goals. If health is a focus for you, consider goals unrelated to weight. This could include increasing energy, managing stress, or getting more sleep. Health is a holistic experience, not a number on a scale.
3. Practice Self-Compassion. Recognize that it’s okay to have complicated feelings about your body, especially in a society that constantly tells us we’re not good enough. Meet those feelings with curiosity and kindness, not judgment.
4. Challenge Harmful Messaging. Speak up when you hear friends or family engaging in diet talk or body-shaming conversations. It’s okay to set boundaries and protect your recovery.
5. Educate and Advocate. Use this time to learn about weight stigma and diet culture and the harm they cause. Share what you learn with others and advocate for a more inclusive, compassionate approach to health.

If you have a friend or family member with an eating disorder, be mindful of how New Year’s conversations might affect them. Avoid commenting on weight, food, or appearance, and focus instead on connecting in meaningful ways. Simply asking, “How can I support you during this time?” can go a long way.

A New Year of Acceptance

The New Year doesn’t have to be about changing your body. It can be about deepening your connection to yourself and others, exploring passions, and creating a life that aligns with your values. As we step into another year, let’s resist the pressure to conform to harmful societal ideals and instead embrace a vision of health and happiness that is inclusive, compassionate, and free from the grips of diet culture.

If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, help is available. Reach out to a trusted therapist, dietitian, or eating disorder organization for support. You deserve a year and a life filled with peace and freedom, not pressure and shame.

To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.