Finding the Grey: Navigating the Intersection of Eating Disorder Treatment, Anti-Diet Movement, and Weight-Inclusive Care

In the world of nutrition and eating disorder treatment, we often find ourselves grappling with the delicate balance between promoting weight-inclusive care and addressing the diverse goals of our clients. The anti-diet movement has rightfully pushed back against the harmful effects of diet culture, emphasizing that you can be healthy at any size. However, in our quest to dismantle these damaging norms, we must ensure that we’re not creating new rigidities that exclude those we initially sought to help.

As dietitians, we possess the unique skillset to support a broad spectrum of health goals. From helping someone achieve full recovery from an eating disorder to guiding others toward safe, manageable weight loss, our work is not confined to black-and-white thinking. In fact, when we approach our clients’ needs with an inflexible mindset, we risk alienating those who might benefit most from our expertise.

Weight-Inclusive Care and Safe Weight Loss

The heart of weight-inclusive care is recognizing that health is not synonymous with size. People of all body types can—and do—live healthy lives. Yet, this truth doesn’t negate the reality that some individuals, for various reasons, may have aesthetic or health goals that include weight loss. The challenge is to meet these goals in a way that is safe, sustainable, and aligned with a non-diet approach.

For individuals who have been marginalized by traditional weight-loss paradigms—such as those living in larger bodies, BIPOC communities, and those with chronic health conditions—the conversation around weight can be particularly complex. These populations often face disparities in healthcare, where weight is wrongly equated with worth, and weight loss is prescribed without consideration for mental and physical well-being.

The Importance of Flexibility

In our roles as dietitians, we must navigate these waters with care. Our approach should be neither "weight loss at all costs" nor "no weight loss at all." Instead, we should embrace the grey area where individualized care lives. It’s in this space that we can support our clients in achieving their goals, whether those involve full recovery from an eating disorder, building muscle, managing blood glucose levels, or pursuing aesthetic changes.

For some, weight loss might be a part of their health journey. For others, it may not be. What’s essential is that we don’t impose a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we provide guidance that considers the whole person—their physical health, mental well-being, and individual life circumstances.

Health at Every Size and Aesthetic Goals

One of the critical messages of the anti-diet movement is that you can be healthy and fat. This is a truth that needs constant reinforcement, especially in a world that continues to stigmatize larger bodies. But it’s also true that you can be healthy and have aesthetic goals. The key is to ensure that these goals are pursued in a way that doesn’t compromise mental or physical health.

Rigid thinking—whether it’s the belief that everyone must lose weight to be healthy or the idea that any pursuit of weight loss is inherently harmful—misses the nuance of real life. It’s in the grey area that we find balance, where we can honor the individuality of each client and the complexity of their needs.

Moving Forward as Dietitians, "Anti-diet", or Not.

As we continue to champion weight-inclusive care, we must also recognize the diverse needs and goals of the people we serve. It’s not enough to reject diet culture; we must also ensure that our approach doesn’t inadvertently exclude or shame those who seek weight loss for their health or personal reasons.

Our role is to empower our clients, providing them with the tools and support they need to achieve their goals in a way that is healthy, sustainable, and respectful of their whole selves. Whether it’s guiding someone toward full recovery from an eating disorder, helping them build muscle, or supporting their journey to manage blood glucose levels, our work lives in the grey area—where life happens, where healing occurs, and where true, lasting health is found.

In embracing this complexity, we not only become better dietitians, but we also become better advocates for the people we serve. It’s not about choosing sides; it’s about seeing the full spectrum of human experience and meeting our clients exactly where they are, with compassion, expertise, and a commitment to their overall well-being.