Last week Iris Higgins, blogger for the Huffington Post, wrote an apology letter to former weight loss clients she counseled apologizing for encouraging restrictive diets and challenging them to “get back on the bandwagon” instead of offering support to address the underlying issues.
I was inspired by her willingness to address the propaganda of the diet industry. I am continually frustrated by the “magic bullet” approach to diets that sets people up for the yo-yo of weight loss and weight gain. The problem is that diets do not change the unhealthy relationship most people have with food. This leads to a self-defeating cycle of dieting and giving up, feeling shame and then trying it all over again.
I am thankful that people who work in the diet industry are starting to recognize this painful pattern and the chaos it is creating for people. Not to mention that the statistics show roughly 95% of diets fail long term. Would you take a medication that has a 5% success rate? I admire Iris for her courage to set the record straight and I hope this is the first of many apologies given by people in the diet industry to their victims along the way.
Michelle Lewis
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Michelle Lewis has been working in the mental health field since 2001. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Weber State University and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Utah. She is passionate about helping others achieve their goals.
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