{"id":8609,"date":"2024-08-31T05:32:44","date_gmt":"2024-08-31T09:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/emmeline-clein-unpacks-the-burden-of-disordered-eating\/"},"modified":"2024-08-31T05:32:44","modified_gmt":"2024-08-31T09:32:44","slug":"emmeline-clein-unpacks-the-burden-of-disordered-eating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/emmeline-clein-unpacks-the-burden-of-disordered-eating\/","title":{"rendered":"Emmeline Clein Unpacks the Burden of Disordered Eating"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Disordered eating is no easy topic to talk about. Countless numbers of people have had a run-in with it sometime in their lives.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s an uncomfortable topic. Not only that, it\u2019s personal. And, more often than not, it\u2019s misunderstood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Most women I know have struggled with some form of disordered eating<\/em>,\u201d says <strong>Emmeline Clein<\/strong>, the author of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/722655\/dead-weight-by-emmeline-clein\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Dead Weight: Essays on Hunger and Harm<\/em><\/a>, on the Mindvalley Book Club with Kristina M\u00e4nd-Lakhiani.<\/p>\n<p>She knows this well because she, too, has walked the walk. She\u2019s lugged around the same \u201cdead weight\u201d\u2014the burden of impossible expectations that society dumps on us, especially us women, without a second thought.<\/p>\n<p>Her book, thank goodness, is a bold and <em>absolutely necessary<\/em> wake-up call. And it pushes us to reevaluate beauty, health, and the price we have to pay to meet such unrealistic standards.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s time to lighten our load, ladies. And Emmeline is showing us how to do just that.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-beauty-standards-and-diet-culture-the-fuel-of-disordered-eating\">Beauty standards and diet culture: The fuel of disordered eating<\/h2>\n<p>Diet culture may grab attention with shocking headlines about eating disorders, and rightfully so. However, there\u2019s another issue that Emmeline insists we focus on\u2014disordered eating.<\/p>\n<p>It shares the same ground as anorexia and bulimia. However, unlike the two nervosas, it often manifests as unhealthy habits that fly under the radar.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>It\u2019s really just any type of kind of pathological relationship with food or your body and what consuming food has meant for the way your body is received by society<\/em>,\u201d Emmeline explains. That includes (but is not limited to):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Chronic dieting,<\/li>\n<li>Skipping meals,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/anxiety-and-diet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Food anxiety<\/a>, or<\/li>\n<li>Using food as a coping mechanism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These behaviors have become so normal, they\u2019re practically the 11th commandment: Thou shalt constantly obsess over thy food and body.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Our mainstream media is still really reinforcing an incredibly dangerous beauty ideal, incredibly rigid ideas of discipline and exercise.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This twisted gospel is <em>everywhere<\/em>\u2014from social media influencers promoting <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/jacqueline-alnes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cwellness\u201d trends<\/a> and \u201cthinspiration\u201d content to doctors stubbornly sticking to the Body Mass Index (BMI) as if it\u2019s the holy grail of health.<\/p>\n<p>But the message they\u2019re sending is clear: smaller bodies are better bodies.<\/p>\n<p>Research has found that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cmaj.ca\/content\/cmaj\/165\/5\/547.full.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more people are developing disordered eating attitudes and behaviors<\/a>. And the scary part is, they\u2019re starting at younger ages\u2014as early as 12.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-s-to-blame\">Who\u2019s to blame?<\/h3>\n<p>Capitalism, misogyny, and racism are the culprits, according to Emmeline. \u201c<em>Our mainstream media is still really reinforcing an incredibly dangerous beauty ideal, incredibly rigid ideas of discipline and exercise<\/em>.\u201d And it ultimately creates a suffocating environment where disordered eating thrives.<\/p>\n<p>To make matters worse, we\u2019ve been sold on this bogus idea that there\u2019s a clear line between \u201chealthy\u201d diets and eating disorders. But in reality, what\u2019s praised as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/when-eating-too-healthy-becomes-harmful-1c9413245\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cdisciplined dieting\u201d can be just as harmful as a full-blown eating disorder<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Take orthorexia, for example\u2014an unhealthy fixation on eating only \u201chealthy\u201d foods. While it might seem like a good thing on the surface, this obsession can spiral into a negative <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/mind-body-connection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mind-body connection<\/a> that can disrupt your life and harm your well-being.<\/p>\n<p>The fact of the matter is, when the focus is solely on matching a certain body size, there\u2019s a higher risk of falling into a cycle of extreme dieting, bingeing, and self-loathing. And more often than not, we fail to recognize that it takes a toll on our mental and physical health.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-emmeline-clein-is-exposing-the-dead-weight-of-diet-culture\">Why Emmeline Clein is exposing the dead weight of diet culture<\/h2>\n<p><em>Dead Weight<\/em> is rooted in Emmeline\u2019s own painful experiences. While it\u2019s not centered around it, it\u2019s clear that her own struggles, plus the suffering she witnessed in others like her, are what fueled her passion to tackle this issue.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>As a society, we care more about women being beautiful than we care about their lives.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>She touches on a lot of important points in her book, but these are the main ones she highlights in her sitdown with Kristina:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Women, not society, are blamed for internalizing these harmful ideals.<\/strong> Even worse, it pits women against each other\u2014resenting skinny women for their size, yet striving to be like them because we\u2019re told that\u2019s what we should want.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Diet culture and the weight loss industry profit from disordered eating. <\/strong>In her research, she uncovered how diet culture and the weight loss industry\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alliedmarketresearch.com\/weight-loss-management-diet-market\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a sector projected to reach over $290 billion by 2027<\/a>\u2014profit from keeping people trapped in cycles of disordered eating.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The medical system fails to provide proper support. <\/strong>The tragic part is that those struggling with body image issues and unhealthy relationships with food are often left without proper support. The medical system doesn\u2019t really recognize or treat disordered eating until it has crossed the line and become a full-blown eating disorder.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201c<em>People with eating disorders have been so, like, condescended to and mocked and maligned by the medical establishment<\/em>,\u201d Emmeline says. \u201c<em>So I wanted to level with people who have struggled with this and say, you know, \u2018You\u2019re not crazy. In fact, you\u2019re really smart, and I understand why you\u2019re doing what you\u2019re doing, but I think it\u2019s really hurting yourself and other women<\/em>.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019s sparking the conversation, for sure. And by doing so, she hopes to help women break free from harmful cycles and question the damaging stories so many of us have believed for so long.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C5V8T19OpOM\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-emmeline-clein-s-3-tips-to-take-charge-and-reclaim-your-body\">Emmeline Clein\u2019s 3 tips to take charge and reclaim your body<\/h2>\n<p>\u201c<em>As a society<\/em>,\u201d says Emmeline, \u201c<em>we care more about women being beautiful than we care about their lives<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The question is, what can you do to dismantle these toxic beliefs and behaviors? No, you don\u2019t have to write a book or rally or burn bras (although you could if you think it\u2019d make headway).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There are more simple yet truly effective ways to make a difference. Here\u2019s what Emmeline advises:<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-start-talking-about-it\">1. Start talking about it<\/h3>\n<p>\u201c<em>It sounds so simple<\/em>,\u201d she says, \u201c<em>but I think it\u2019s really powerful<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Have open conversations about your struggles and pressures. Whether it\u2019s at the dinner table or among friends, sharing experiences helps build mutual support and reduces the stigma surrounding disordered eating.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Once you start those conversations and everyone realizes they\u2019ve felt such a similar type of deeply crushing pain, you can kind of build this solidarity<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When women realize they\u2019re not alone in their feelings, they can start to heal and push back against the unrealistic expectations imposed on them.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-be-mindful-of-the-content-you-consume\">2. Be mindful of the content you consume<\/h3>\n<p>Emmeline suggests actively diversifying the media you consume. Seek out and follow content creators who promote body positivity and represent a wide range of <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/female-body-types\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">body types<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>If you actively follow accounts of people with different sizes, the algorithm will learn that [you want] to see bodies of all sizes and not just one size body<\/em>,\u201d she explains. \u201c<em>Whereas if you don\u2019t, you do have to actively seek it out because the algorithms are coded to uphold the beauty ideal<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A more diverse and realistic portrayal of beauty on your social feed can help you unlearn the narrow ideals that have been ingrained in us for so long. And it can be the shift in how you view yourself and others.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-think-beyond-yourself\">3. Think beyond yourself<\/h3>\n<p>Striving for perfection is a trap. <em>Especially<\/em> when it\u2019s framed as self-improvement.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you might think that obsessively counting calories or working out to exhaustion is just part of becoming your \u201cbest self.\u201d But in reality, these behaviors can lead to <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/how-to-recover-from-burnout\/\">burnout<\/a>, anxiety, and an unhealthy relationship with your body.<\/p>\n<p>According to Emmeline, opting out of these types of harmful behaviors not only helps you; it helps others, too. \u201c<em>Once you realize how prevalent this thing is, you realize that we can all do it together, and you realize that you don\u2019t want to be contributing to it<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>By rejecting these harmful ideals together, we create more room for empowering definitions of beauty and health.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-great-change-starts-here\">Great change starts here<\/h2>\n<p><em>Dead Weight<\/em> by Emmeline Clein isn\u2019t just another book on the shelf. It\u2019s one that can spark a revolution in how we think about beauty, health, and self-worth.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re interested in more like it that challenges the status quo and inspires real transformation, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindvalley.com\/bookclub?utm_source=mv_blog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Mindvalley Book Club with Kristina M\u00e4nd-Lakhiani<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There are books that entertain. There are books that inform. And then there are books that change the way you see the world.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, you\u2019ll get to hear directly from the authors as they dive into topics like self-worth, resilience, and living authentically.<\/p>\n<p>Ready to join the conversation and find your next must-read? It\u2019s easy\u2014just click the button and become part of the club.<\/p>\n<p>Welcome in.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disordered eating is no easy topic to talk about. Countless numbers of people have had a run-in with it sometime in their lives. It\u2019s an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-happiness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}