Diet Culture in Lockdown
With so much going on in the world right now, our fitness probably isn’t at the top of our priority list. Seeing as there aren’t a lot of places to go, we’ve all been moving less than usual. I know I’m not the only person to fall victim to a cheeky cocktail or extra slice of cake after lunch without thinking about how it would affect my mental health and perception of my body.
A term that has come to light lately is the “Quarantine 15”, referring to the 15lbs of weight that people are worried about putting on during lockdown. There is some truth behind this; stress has a very powerful impact on appetite, with chronic stress being associated with an increased preference for foods high in sugar and fat. No one can dispute that the past few months have been incredibly stressful for everyone, so no one would be blamed for wanting to eat some comfort food.
Making fitness your lockdown project should never be shunned and, in fact, this would be a great time to do more exercise if you don’t usually have the time. From the Instagram 5k challenge to over a million downloads of the ‘Couch to 5k’ app, it seems like exercise is everywhere right now. However, the focus on exercise and healthy living has had a detrimental effect on people, creating a rise in diet culture and eating disorders.
BEAT, an eating disorder charity, has claimed a 50% increase in calls to their helpline since the start of lockdown. The increased focus on being fit and healthy is affecting those who are already struggling. The rise in workout regimes and diet pill social media ads makes it impossible to get away from the so-called ‘ideal body’ we should be aiming for.
It’s no surprise that charities like BEAT have received more calls. Lack of everyday movement combined with added stress is bound to have damaging effects. Many people have also been hit with severe changes in routine and life circumstances including loss of jobs. All of this comes together to form a concoction of mental struggles. The closure of gyms and swimming pools has become a source of panic for many, leading to feelings of guilt for not keeping up with other people’s exercise regimes.
Lockdown can have a lot of us feeling physical trapped with no way out. This makes it easy for people to feel cut off from their usual support system, friends and family. This is especially evident for those already struggling pre-lockdown.
Social media has a large role to play here. Screen time has increased since the start of lockdown and once we’re alone it’s all too tempting to scroll through Instagram or TikTok. However, when you’re only viewing things through a screen there’s an increased chance of tunnel-vision when it comes to your weight. Social media has a strong focus on self-promotion and showing how amazing you’re doing in lockdown without much regard as to how this affects other people. The constant posting about exercise apps, diets and banana bread creates an internal fear that if you aren’t doing all of this you are automatically doomed to put on the dreaded quarantine 15.
A joke here and there about not being able to fit into your jeans after lockdown may seem like nothing, but when you’re being bombarded with similar posts it all builds up into one fatphobic monster. It’s easy to forget that everyone reacts to stress differently. Whilst some people may put on weight, others might lose it. There’s too much focus on body shape right now, especially when both of these reactions are perfectly natural.
If you’re struggling with keeping up with this ridiculous fitness frenzy, there are ways to try and control the impact of lockdown. Rather than following hundreds of influencers who only post promotional content, start following some self-love accounts that promote a healthy mindset such as @selfcareisapriority, @covid19eatingsupport and @timetologoff. Limiting your screen time or taking a social media break can also be extremely beneficial.
One constructive change I’ve made is to avoid extreme amounts of exercise and instead work on exercising in a way that mimics what I would do pre-lockdown. This includes exploring a new hiking trail I hadn’t seen before or playing Just Dance. Exercise doesn’t always have to be a chore – if you’re worried about putting on weight in lockdown try and do something fun that makes up for the lack of movement. The aim is to maintain a healthy body, not to become an Olympic athlete in a matter of months. It’s important to remember that now is not an ideal time to go on a diet either. In an already stressful time, you don’t want to add more physical stress on your body.
The best thing we can all do in this crisis is be kinder – both to each other and to yourself. Stop comparing yourself to other people and instead focus on being healthy and happy. It’s ok to feel down about things during lockdown, but don’t let social media and diet culture guide you into a pit of self-hatred. Your purpose in life right now is to think positively and not to worry about your weight.
Written by Suzie Letts
Hey, I’m Suzie! I’ve recently finished my undergraduate degree at King’s College London and currently work as a Social Media Marketing Officer for an international music summer school. I also work freelance for various musical artists to create social media strategies and online content. As a musician, I love writing and performing everything from classical to musical theatre and spend a lot of my time playing in orchestras and bands across the country.