Breaking Down the Barriers: Fat Shaming and Fertility

Sarah Jons Author

Sep 13, 2023 |

Explore the impact of BMI and diet culture on fertility, and discover a holistic approach to fertility treatment that prioritises overall well-being.

Breaking Down the Barriers: Fat Shaming and Fertility

In today's world, the journey to fertility can be fraught with obstacles, and one of the most insidious is the issue of fat shaming and fertility. For far too many individuals, the quest to conceive is marred by judgments based solely on their body mass index (BMI). But here's the truth: BMI is an outdated, unreliable metric when it comes to assessing hormonal health and fertility potential. It's high time we debunked the myths surrounding BMI and diet culture, and embraced a more holistic, inclusive approach to fertility treatment.

BMI: The Flawed Yardstick

BMI, or Body Mass Index, has long been used as a quick and easy measure of a person's weight relative to their height. However, it's a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to account for critical factors such as body composition, ethnicity, and genetic predispositions. The fact is, fertility requires adequate fat stores in the body, and BMI simply cannot determine someone's fertility potential.

Imagine being denied fertility treatment solely because your BMI is deemed too high. It's a harsh reality for many, and it's a form of discrimination that should have no place in the medical field. Instead of focusing on arbitrary numbers on a scale, fertility treatment should be weight-inclusive, considering the individual's overall health and well-being.

The Impact of Diet Culture

Diet culture perpetuates a set of harmful beliefs that prioritise thinness, shape, and size above all else, equating them with health and fertility success. This culture pressures individuals to conform to a specific body ideal, often leading to a cycle of dieting and weight fluctuations. I understand this struggle intimately, having experimented with various diets myself, from cabbage soup to Atkins, diet pills to shakes. Many years ago I accepted my body shape for what it is. I"m not in love with my body, but I respect it for what it does for me, and I want to look after it.

The truth is, diets rarely lead to sustained weight loss. In fact, they often set the stage for future weight gain. When we deprive ourselves of certain foods or follow restrictive eating patterns, the hypothalamus, a key regulator of metabolism, signals the body to slow down metabolism and increase appetite. It's a biological response to ensure survival, and it's not something we can easily override.

Embracing a Health-at-Every-Size (HAES) Approach

To counteract the damaging effects of diet culture and BMI-based judgments, it's essential to embrace a Health-at-Every-Size (HAES) approach. HAES recognises and respects the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes, rejecting the idealism of specific weights. It encourages individuals to:

1. Eat for Wellbeing: Instead of external regulations and weight control, focus on flexible eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and pleasure.
2. Engage in Life-Enhancing Movement: Support physical activities that allow people of all sizes and abilities to enjoy movement and exercise.
3. Prioritise Mental Wellbeing: Your mental health is a cornerstone of overall health. Managing anxiety, reducing stress, and cultivating a positive body image are vital steps toward fertility health.

In conclusion, the path to fertility should not be marred by the outdated BMI or the pressures of diet culture. It's time to shift our focus from the number on the scale to the holistic well-being of individuals seeking fertility treatment. Let's empower everyone to build their personal armour against fat shaming, embrace their bodies, and prioritise their mental and physical health on their fertility journey. Your body is remarkable and deserves to be celebrated for all that it allows you to do.

About Sarah SMBRCP DipCHyp NLPMP HPD PgDip CHBP CHFP CertTBr

Sarah is a dedicated fertility therapist with an integrative approach that goes beyond traditional medicine. She combines cutting-edge mind-body therapies with evidence-based techniques like breathwork, hypnosis, NLP, and neuroscience to address all aspects of fertility health at different life stages.

Her expertise lies in optimising emotional and mental fertility well-being for individuals from puberty, to perimenopause and beyond. With a holistic approach, Sarah empowers her clients to achieve emotional balance and mental clarity while navigating their unique fertility challenges. Gain insights and solutions in one session. Visit www.thefertilitytherapist.com to start your transformative fertility journey today.

Categories: : Weight