Breaking the Ableist Myth 🪅🪄 Why You Can't Physically Lose Weight with Just 'Diet & Exercise'
Hey there, welcome back to Laine’s World! 🌎 Unless this is the first time reading my blog, then welcome! For those of you who know me or follow me on socials I love talking about breaking the heck up, hitting that unsubscribe button & ghosting toxic diet culture & exercise 👋
Today is a topic I’ve kept quiet about, but no lie, it’s been bothering me for a long time 😤 Right now, I want to talk about the ableist myth that suggests that women just need to ‘eat better’ & ‘exercise more’ to lose weight. I want to break it down & show you why diet & exercise are not, in fact, the answer for everyone.
First off, let's talk about the basics, shall we?
Losing weight requires a calorie deficit, or even restriction, which basically translates to burning more calories than you consume. For most this can be achieved through a mix of diet & exercise, but for many individuals, this just ain’t possible! 🙅♀️ Some disabilities (both visible & invisible) make it difficult or impossible to engage in certain types of physical activity, while others need medications or treatments that can actually cause weight gain. This includes some anti-depressants, corticosteroids for things like asthma, Insulin for diabetes, and so on. It's not as simple as just ‘moving more’ or ‘eating less’ 🙃
Another magical key 🗝️ factor for the treasure box of weight loss is metabolism, or the rate at which your body burns calories. Unfortunately, many chronic illnesses & disabilities can affect metabolism, making it harder to lose weight, even with a thought-out map of a diet and exercise routine. Hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and other health conditions can all impact metabolism and make weight loss more difficult.
🚩 One of the biggest red flags with the ‘diet & exercise’ myth is that it completely ignores the systemic oppression that disabled people face. There are many disabled individuals who live in poverty or face barriers to accessing healthy food options. I recognise my privilege in this space, living in a first world country, being a white woman & having access to so many services that can improve & maintain my overall wellbeing. I am within walking distance to several health food stores, groceries spots that sell fresh fruit & vegetables, gyms & wellness studios.
In saying that, there are a lot of public spaces including gyms & studios that are not designed with accessibility in mind, from the layout to the equipment use. This makes it difficult or impossible for some disabled individuals to even simply engage in movement.
Finally, many medical professionals have deep rooted biases that make it difficult for disabled individuals to receive appropriate care and support when it comes to their overall wellbeing. I can still feel the discomfort in my body when I think about past experiences booking a GP appointment about my chronic pain that was discarded at the suggestion that I was experiencing this pain because of my weight 🥴 When in fact the pain I was experiencing stemmed from a mismanaged procedure I had years before. 😵💫 Shock horror 😵💫
It's also important to recognize that weight is not an indicator of health. How many thin & able-bodied babes do you know who are dealing with health issues? 🤷🏻♀️ Probably just as many disabled people who are in excellent health despite their weight.
When we focus solely on weight loss as a measure of health, we ignore the complexities that chronic illness, pain, & disability impact bodies.
Instead, we need to shift our focus to overall wellness, which is an all-encompassing sexy ecosystem that includes our mental health, physical health, and self-care ✅
So, what's the bottom line here y’all?
The ableist myth that folks just need to ‘diet & exercise’ to lose weight is a harmful oversimplification that ignores the complex realities of those living with health conditions or impairments, including chronic illness. 🫴Diet & exercise are not the answer for everyone.
We need to change the conversation around health & wellness so that we're not contributing to ableism & discrimination against those with health conditions or impairments. By focusing on overall wellness, we can create a more inclusive & supportive community.
Keep shining, ya oddy bodies & big, beautiful babes! 💋
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With limited spots available, I highly suggest you join the waitlist today to be the first in the know! Your journey to embracing your worth begins here.
