Why Is It So Hard to Stop Dieting?

Most of us know by now that dieting doesn’t work—if it did, we wouldn’t find

ourselves stuck in the diet cycle, constantly starting over, searching for the next

“solution,” or feeling like we’ve failed when the results don’t last.

It’s common to see clients feeling trapped between wanting to stop dieting and not

letting go of all it offers them. If you’re longing for food freedom and a healthy

relationship with food, but part of you still feels the constant desire to be in a smaller

body, you’re not alone. I’m going to explain why dieting is so hard to stop and how

breaking free from diet culture can help you trust your body with food.

Diet Culture on Social Media

We’ve all been exposed to diet culture in one way or another—through celebrity

weight loss trends, magazine covers, family discussions about “good” and “bad”

foods, and in the past two decades, mostly through social media.

Diet culture on social media perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards, making

thinness seem more important than health. It promotes restrictive dieting, calorie

counting, and food morality, leading many people to feel guilt and anxiety around

eating.

The Rise of “SkinnyTok” and Harmful Diet Trends

Unfortunately, there has been another spike in restrictive diets trending on social

media. A harmful new trend called “SkinnyTok” has now emerged on TikTok, where

people—often already in small bodies—share restrictive eating tips disguised as

healthy weight loss advice. These so-called “tips” encourage behaviours like juice

cleanses, cutting out entire food groups, extremely low-calorie meal plans, and over-

exercising as a way to “burn off” food, just to name a few.

These habits are unsustainable and often contribute to disordered eating, a strained relationship with food, and potential long-term health risks.

Control and Stability

It’s easy for life to feel chaotic, disorganised, and out of control. Work schedules,

family responsibilities, social commitments, and daily stress can all pile up, creating

a sense of overwhelm. Tracking food, counting calories, and following strict meal

plans may feel like a way to maintain control, but in reality, they often lead to

overthinking, obsessing, and a preoccupation with food, ultimately adding more

stress to your life.

Instead of experiencing true food freedom, many people become trapped in the

binge-restrict cycle- where deprivation fuels cravings, leading to overeating, guilt,

and a return to restriction. Breaking free from dieting isn’t about more rules or

control; it’s about learning to trust your body and finding balance through flexible,

nourishing eating habits rather than rigid food rules.

Societal Pressure

Dieting is so widely accepted that it often feels like the norm, making it difficult to

step away from restrictive eating patterns. It can create a sense of belonging, as

many people bond over shared struggles with food, weight, and body image. From

casual conversations about “being good” or “cheating” on a diet to entire industries

built around weight loss, the pressure to keep dieting is everywhere.

Dieting is also tied to the belief that it’s the only way to maintain or achieve health.

Many people worry that adopting a non-diet approach will lead to overeating,

bingeing, or weight gain, reinforcing the misconception that strict control is

necessary.

Truth: It’s often restrictive eating that triggers binge eating

Truth: It’s often restrictive eating that triggers binge eating, making food feel even

more chaotic. When all foods are included in a balanced, flexible way, eating

becomes more intuitive, and the body can regulate itself naturally.

What Can I Do?

Want to stop dieting for good and build a healthy relationship with food and

your body? We can help! 

Learn more about our philosophy or book an appointment to see us in-person or on

telehealth.

Book a FREE discovery call here

---