"5 Reasons Why Diet Culture Is Harmful To Black Folks":

Diet culture is everywhere from social media to doctors’ offices, but what often gets overlooked is how uniquely harmful it can be for Black communities. While “getting healthy” might seem like a universal goal, diet culture often disguises harmful messages that can perpetuate shame, trauma, and systemic inequality—especially for Black folks. (Strings, S. (2019). Fearing the Black body: The racial origins of fat phobia. New York University). Here are five reasons why diet culture may do more harm than good in our communities:

1. It Ignores Cultural Foods and Traditions

Diet culture often labels traditional Black foods, like fried fish, seasoned greens, cornbread, or mac and cheese as “unhealthy,” while promoting narrow and restrictive definitions of what healthy eating should look like. This kind of messaging can make us feel ashamed of the foods that bring us comfort, connection, and cultural pride. True wellness doesn't mean giving up our traditions, it means embracing them in ways that nourish both body and soul.

2. It Promotes Anti-Black Beauty Standards

Thinness is often portrayed as the gold standard of health and beauty, rooted in white, Western ideals. But Black bodies come in all shapes and sizes and that diversity is beautiful. Diet culture often marginalizes fuller bodies, feeding into harmful stereotypes and encouraging body dissatisfaction among Black women, men, and other minority groups.

3. It Distracts from the Real Issues

Instead of addressing the lack of access to fresh and affordable food in many Black communities, lack of access to quality healthcare, systemic racism, or chronic stress, diet culture places the blame squarely on individuals. It tells people to “just eat better,” without acknowledging the economic and social barriers that many Black communities face when trying to live healthy lives.

4. It Triggers Shame and Mental Health Struggles

Diet culture encourages guilt around food and weight, which can lead to disordered eating and mental health issues. For Black folks, who already face stigma when seeking mental health support, this added layer of shame can be deeply damaging and go untreated for years.

5. True Wellness Should Feel Inclusive for Everyone

Too often, wellness spaces like yoga classes, fitness communities, or nutrition platforms don’t reflect the diversity of the people they’re meant to serve. Black voices, stories, and experiences are frequently left out of the conversation. This can create a sense of not belonging or feeling unseen. But wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. It should be a space where everyone feels safe, represented, and celebrated. When wellness embraces our culture, our history, and our realities, it becomes more powerful and more healing for everyone involved.

True wellness should uplift, not oppress. It's time to unlearn diet culture and embrace holistic health approaches that honor Black bodies and celebrate diversity.  Wellness belongs to us, too.

Tywanda specializes in holistic weight loss counseling and has completed training in binge eating and chronic dieting. She is also a board-certified bariatric counselor (BCBC) and is passionate about helping individuals incorporate holistic wellness into their healing journey. Tywanda is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi, and Kansas. To book a consultation with her click here. Tywanda and her husband, Chyco, also host a mental health podcast every Saturday at 9 a.m. CST on Bumpin 96.3 radio station in Memphis. You can also stream online.