25 Common Non-Body Positive Statements We Need to Let Go Of
Are These Statements Harming Your Relationship with Food and Your Body?
As a therapist who has been treating eating disorders for over a decade, I’ve accumulated a collection of statements that I’ve heard again and again from clients in my office. These seemingly “normal” phrases often reflect deeply internalized beliefs rooted in diet culture, poor body image, and disordered eating patterns.
Below is a list of 25 typical non-body positive statements that have surfaced in my work—and sadly, in my own past as well.
25 Typical Non-Body Positive Statements to Be Mindful Of:
I need to lose weight
When I lose weight I’ll go to the gym
I’m not getting in a bathing suit unless I lose weight
I can’t have dessert in the house, I’ll eat it all
I’m a fat cow
I wish I was anorexic
Hahaha, I struggle with an eating disorder, it’s called eating too much (chuckle)
I don’t eat sugar (guzzle alcohol 🍷)
I’m not eating carbs (guzzle alcohol 🍺)
I can’t eat that, I won’t be able to stop
My trainer put me on a diet (insert tilapia for breakfast, lunch, and dinner 🐟)
I’ve been so bad lately
I made this really good sugar-free, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free (no thanks!)
I don’t eat that
I don’t allow my kids to have junk food
I have to work out every day
I didn’t work out today so I have to be good tonight
How do you stay so skinny?
I’m on a diet (for the 80th time)
I don’t eat breakfast
How do you eat that and not gain weight?
I don’t like food
I’m not hungry
I’m full (after two bites)
I’m fat
When I look at this list, I can personally attest that during my early 20s, while I was struggling with disordered eating, I said or thought nearly every single one of these. Many people I work with in places like Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and Boca Raton tell me things like:
“I don’t have an eating disorder, I just eat healthy.”
This belief might seem harmless, but the truth is—disordered eating is a disorder. And it can evolve into a full-blown eating disorder at any point in life. You don’t have to be a teenager or fit a certain stereotype to struggle with food or body image. Whether you’re 20, 40, 60, or 80—this can impact anyone. Over 30 million people in the U.S. will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime.
Why These Statements Are Harmful
None of the statements on that list are helpful—not for ourselves, and not for the people around us. In fact, they can:
Disrupt brain function
Lower self-esteem
Decrease confidence
Undermine body satisfaction
Reinforce poor eating habits
Trigger eating disorders in others, especially children
Often, these statements become so normalized that they blend into our everyday language. But they’re damaging. These indirect messages—whether heard by our kids, our peers, or ourselves—can lead to a cycle of shame, guilt, and disordered behavior.
Healing Begins with Awareness
Whether you’re in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, or Boca Raton, if you’ve found yourself repeating any of these statements, please know you are not alone—and help is available.
Our words matter. The way we talk about our bodies, our food choices, and our worth influences not just our mental health, but that of our families, coworkers, and friends. When we begin to shift those internal narratives, true healing can take place.
If you're ready to change the way you view food and your body, I encourage you to reach out to a qualified eating disorder therapist or registered dietitian who understands the complexity of disordered eating.
Ready to take the next step?
We offer supportive, individualized care for eating disorders and disordered eating in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Boca Raton, and throughout South Florida.
Contact the Collaborative Palm Beach today to schedule a consultation or learn more about how therapy can support your journey toward food freedom and body acceptance.
Author: Nicole Paolucci, LMHC
Serving clients in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Boca Raton, and surrounding South Florida areas