Most of us have likely experienced at least some feelings of insecurity about our bodies at some point in our lives – that self-conscious voice that tells us our waists are not small enough, our legs are too thick, our arms are too flabby, our chests are too flat. Negative body-image thoughts can take many different forms and have serious effects on mental stability, but in recent years a number of “Love Your Body” campaigns have developed to show support for all body types and shapes. While I fully admire the message behind these movements, I feel there is something missing..
Yes, it is SO important to love your body and to be comfortable in your own skin, but this is not always the same thing as actually treating your body with love.
It can be easy to use this positive message as an excuse to ignore the effects some foods can have on our bodies physically, mentally, and psychologically. Common knowledge tells us we probably shouldn’t eat an entire box of donuts if we don’t want to gain any extra weight or feel sick afterwards, but what many are unaware of is how “junk food” affects signaling pathways in our brains.
One of these pathways is called the endocannabinoid (eCB) system. Basically, high levels of eCBs in the brain contribute to feelings of hunger, telling us when to eat. Increased levels of eCBs also increase dopamine levels, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter involved in the reward pathway. After we finish eating, other hormones are supposed to turn off these effects and tell us we are no longer hungry. However, researchers have found that some foods can seriously throw this pathway off balance. Foods that are high in sugar or fat significantly increase eCB levels which also leads to more dopamine in our brains, making us crave more sugar and more fat. In other words, consuming junk food can lead to an overactive reward system, resulting in a massive increase in cravings for these foods and contribute to weight gain and obesity, a growing issue in the United States. There are many uncontrollable factors that can contribute to obesity in an individual such as genetics, socio-economic status, mental health, etc. However, there are some cases mainly induced by poor diets – likely the “easiest” factor to control. With the severe costs obesity has on both an individual and our nation’s economy, it is imperative that steps are taken to combat the growth of the disease.
As a competitive athlete all the way through college, I learned the importance of treating my body right and doing my best to keep a clean diet for the sake of competing at the highest possible level. I did not know until recently that foods high in sugar and fat can LITERALLY change how my brain is functioning, negatively impacting everything else going on throughout my body. This information is what I think these “Love Your Body” campaigns are missing. They are encouraging that no one should be ashamed of their body which, again, I fully agree with. However, this idea can be interpreted in many different ways, and I think their message should be a bit more nuanced to include the importance of striving to be healthy overall along with having a positive body image.
