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health & discrimination

2 · Jun 12, 2020 · Leave a Comment

the important connection between health & discrimination that diet & wellness culture will never reveal

Diet and and wellness culture loves to put the onus of one’s health on the individual. You’ll often hear messages such as: all you have to do is make better choices. Choose healthier foods, choose to be more active. The ability to lose weight is all within your control – it just comes down to how you move and what you eat!

The problem is, an individual’s health and well-being is SO MUCH more nuanced than that. There is just so much more that goes into it than simply making better choices.

I wanted to pull and add to this past week’s newsletter on health & discrimination so that this information is accessible to everyone as I feel it’s important to understand.

Research has shown that good health rises in tandem with class & socioeconomic status.  Even in circumstances where everyone is on a level playing field with regards to having food, shelter, safety, sleep and the opportunity to exercise, we see disparity among classes. 

Regardless of whether we’re looking at income, formal education or job status – as societal inequality increases, so too does poor health.  Ignoring this as a health professional treating individuals, and focusing only on diet and exercise misses a huge and important piece of the puzzle.

There are many individuals who eat well yet are still impacted by diseases often blamed on “poor nutrition” (i.e. heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.).  And of course, nutrition has some impact on our overall well-being and individual disease risk.  However, genes and lifestyle factors contribute to only a small part of the equation when looking at health differences among classes.  Conversely, structural, political and social determinants play a much larger role than are often given credit.

If you’re unfamiliar, social determinants of health refer to factors such as our physical environment, our access to medical care, our genetics and biology and social circumstance (which includes issues such as discrimination, stress, lack of job autonomy, living & work environment, and so on).  Most of which are largely out of our personal control.

When we focus only on food, body weight and exercise, we’re missing a major part of the health picture: structural and political issues that greatly impact health & wellbeing.  Self-care is important and valuable, but when it comes to tackling health disparities, issues of improved opportunity, education, environment and work circumstances have much more significant impact on overall wellbeing than diet & exercise.  It’s critical to consider the role one’s environment has on the reality of the choices they can make with regards to self-care and overall health.

When you make it all about choice, it neglects very really factors that play a role. Take access and safety for example. What if you don’t own a car and there’s no store within walking distance that sells fresh fruit and vegetables? Is the advice of “bump up your intake of whole foods like fruits & veggies” going to be truly useful when trying to improve your health? What if you can’t afford a gym membership and don’t feel safe going out to exercise? Will advice such as “just move your body more!” or “take a lunchtime walk!” really have any value or impact on your health? Likely not.

Living in a society with systemic racism means BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) suffer injustice at every level of society. From wealth (inequality in the US has increased exponentially since the 1980s and continues to rise) to education (Black students are more likely than white students to be suspended for the same infractions), employment (Black individuals are 2x more likely than white individuals to be unemployed and applicants with ‘white sounding’ names are 50% more likely to be called back after interviews than those with ‘Black sounding’ names with similar resumes) to healthcare (from access to fair and quality healthcare to increased risk of certain conditions as a result of the stress of discrimination and injustice), housing (from the loans they are offered to the types and number of homes they’re shown), criminal justice (African Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at a rate that is 5.1 times the imprisonment of whites) and more.

There are a number of studies that have shown the critical role these injustices play in overall health & well-being, with one concluding “although reducing the prevalence of health risk behaviors in low-income populations is an important public health goal, socioeconomic differences in mortality are due to a wider array of factors and, therefore, would persist even with improved health behaviors among the disadvantaged” (1).

Discrimination in any form is harmful to health.  Elevated rates of hypertension in Black communities span socioeconomic classes, unable to be pinned to genetic or lifestyle factors alone; only really making sense when the experiences of, exposure and response to racism is considered.  The experience of inequality and the degree of agency one has over one’s life and the opportunities presented, plays a significant role in overall health & longevity.

It’s critical for everyone, but especially healthcare professionals, to be aware of just how many other factors impact our health outside weight, diet and exercise. It’s about so much more, and it’s time to take the power away from the diet and wellness industry reducing our selves & wellbeing down to these things.

References:

  • P.M. Lantz et al., “Socioeconomic Factors, Health Behaviors, and Mortality: Results from a Nationally Representative Prospective Study of US Adults,” Journal of the American Medical Association 279, no. 21 (1998): 1703-8.
  • Bacon, Linda, and Lucy Aphramor. Body Respect: What Conventional Health Books Get Wrong, Leave Out, and Just Plain Fail to Understand about Weight. BenBella Books, Inc., 2014.
2

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i’m cait, a registered dietitian and mom. i believe in a realistic approach to wellness. on this site you'll find easy recipes, nutrition content, motherhood tips and more! read more →

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hear me out. I know we've been taught to celebrat hear me out.  I know we've been taught to celebrate things like weight loss, toned muscles, beauty procedures that help us look younger...but here's why I always caution against putting so much focus on appearance:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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bodies change.  weight fluctuates. skin sags and wrinkles.  hair grays.  these are all part of the natural process (& privilege) of aging.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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we live in a society that promotes this backward idea that our appearance should remain stable despite years passing.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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rather than internalizing the false idea that we need always be reaching backward and working to re-obtain what once was, allow your body to showcase the beautiful signs that you were given yet another day to walk this earth.  another chance to pursue your passion and purpose...both of which are so much more important than how you look.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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to anyone that needs this reminder today: you are not your body.  your worth and well-being is not dependent on your appearance.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#caitsplatenutrition #caitsplate #antidietculture #nondietapproach #antidietdietitian #intuitiveeatingjourney #youareworthy
tweaked my slow cooker turkey, bean & veggie chili tweaked my slow cooker turkey, bean & veggie chili this past week to make it meatless and it was 🙌🏼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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here’s how I did it:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1 cup diced bell peppers (I used a mixture)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 3 cloves garlic, minced⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1  15-oz. can kidney beans, rinsed and drained⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1 1/2 cups veggie broth⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 3 teaspoons chili powder (+/- as desired)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1-2 sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into 2 inch cubes⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Salt & pepper, to taste⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 2-4 tbsp. olive oil⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 2 cups cooked quinoa⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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place everything but the quinoa into a slow cooker & place on HIGH for 4 hours.  Stir in cooked quinoa & add additional salt / pepper / spices to taste.  top with your favorite toppings (I love cheese, avocado, yogurt & hot sauce).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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this chili is great right away (even better after a day to marinate in the fridge) and is an easy make-ahead meal you can enjoy all week!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#caitsplatefood #caitsplate #chilirecipe #vegetarianrecipe #vegetrianmeal #vegetarianmealprep #slowcooker #slowercookermeals #crockpotrecipes
what's a diet culture rule you've never quite unde what's a diet culture rule you've never quite understood?
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for me it was definitely the "don't eat after 6pm" rule 🤔
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hunger and digestion are not run by the clock.  there are so many factors that can go into why we feel hungry from one moment to the next, and that feeling of hunger is always valid and should be honored, regardless of the time of day.
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similarly, there are no 'right' or 'wrong' times to eat a meal.  breakfast, lunch and dinner are not bound to specific windows of time.  each can be eaten whenever you & your body deem it appropriate.
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hope this reaches anyone who might need these reminders today ❤️
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#caitsplatenutrition #caitsplate #antidietdietitian #mindsetmatters #allfoodsfit #edwarriors #rdchat #dietitiansofinstagram #healthateverysize #dietculturedropout #nondietdietitian #antidietculture #antidietrevolution #intuitiveeatingjourney
these greek spinach & feta turkey meatballs make f these greek spinach & feta turkey meatballs make for a super simple weeknight meal.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm partial to serving them over some couscous or quinoa, slathering them in tzatziki sauce then adding some fresh cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes & pita bread.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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but you can really serve them up in whatever way you like best!  done in 35 minutes and makes enough to eat for several meals 🙌🏼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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grab the recipe on @caitsplate (link in bio): https://caitsplate.com/greek-spinach-feta-turkey-meatballs/⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#caitsplatefood #caitsplate #dinnerrecipes #dinnerathome #easydinner #easymeals #thefeedfeed #f52community #huffposttaste #recipeideas
just to add a little perspective around the messag just to add a little perspective around the messaging that’s out there telling us all how to “lose the COVID 15...”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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let's reframe the fear mongering language around weight gain during this pandemic as a sign of privilege.  having enough, at a time where so many have lost so much, should be looked at as nothing but a positive.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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our bodies are meant to shift and change with different seasons of life.  using food as one way to cope with hard emotions is completely common and part of a peaceful relationship with food.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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we are in unprecedented times.  seeking self-comfort and care in whatever way works for you is OKAY.  having gained weight during this pandemic is OKAY and not something you need to be jumping to 'fix' or 'correct.' and most importantly, it's okay to reframe comfort eating to something you can be grateful for, a coping skill you have the privilege and opportunity to enjoy, rather than berating yourself for it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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sending everyone a great big virtual hug today 🤍⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#caitsplatenutrition #caitsplate #nondietapproach #antidietdietitian #antidietculture #intuitiveeatingjourney #intuitiveeating #nondietdietitian #youareenough #youareworthy
another favorite from the archives!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ another favorite from the archives!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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this veggie sushi grain bowl takes all your favorite flavors from a veggie sushi roll and deconstructs it into an easy lunch.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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finished off with an Asian ginger vinaigrette, it will definitely be a meal you make time and time again.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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here’s what you need: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
for the grain bowl:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 2 cups cooked rice⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1 cup steamed shelled edamame⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 2 cups carrots, peeled & cut into ribbons (you can also shredded or thinly slice them)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1/2 cup cucumbers, thinly sliced⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1 avocado, sliced⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Optional: black sesame seeds⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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for the dressing (recipe from all recipes):⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 3 cloves garlic, minced⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger root, peeled & minced⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 3/4 cup olive oil⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1/3 cup soy sauce⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 3 tablespoons honey⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- 1/4 cup water⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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full recipe details on @caitsplate (link in profile): https://caitsplate.com/veggie-sushi-grain-bowl/⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#caitsplatefood #caitsplate #vegetarianrecipe #vegetarianeats #vegetarianlunch #huffposttaste #thefeedfeed #f52community #lunchtoday

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