Celebrating all Bodies
When was the last time you saw a message telling you how your body should look? If I had to guess, I'd say it was probably today.
Whether it’s scrolling through social media, hearing another conversation about weight-loss medications, seeing a celebrity body transformation, or catching yourself comparing your body to someone else's, we're constantly surrounded by messages that thinner is better - more attractive, more disciplined, or somehow more worthy. It's no surprise that many of us equate our value to the way our bodies look.
As someone who has spent years healing my own relationship with food and my body, I've learned just how sneaky diet culture can be. It disguises itself as wellness, self-improvement, or "just wanting to be healthy." It convinces us that we'll finally feel happier, healthier, or more confident once our bodies look different.
But the truth is, our bodies aren't trends. They're the vessels that we move through life in. They carry us through illness and healing, joy and grief, stress and celebration. They let us hug the people we love, laugh until we cry, dance in the kitchen, and experience the world. They deserve so much more than being judged by how closely they match the latest ideal.
This is part of why I appreciate the Health at Every Size (HAES) framework. Rather than centering health around weight or size, HAES encourages us to care for our bodies through nourishment, movement that feels good, rest, and self-compassion, while recognizing that health can't be determined just by looking at someone. It also reminds us that struggling with food and body image affects people of every body size, gender, race, and age.
When we talk about celebrating all bodies, I don't think that means you have to love your body every single day. For many of us, that's just not realistic. Maybe it starts with body neutrality - recognizing that your body deserves care and respect, even on the days you struggle with it. If that's hard to do alone, finding a weight-inclusive, HAES-informed therapist can be a meaningful place to start. Your body is worthy of compassion exactly as it is today, and every day. Recognizing and acknowledging that is a celebration of its own.
Ally (she/her/ella) provides warm, collaborative, and culturally responsive therapy for individuals, couples, and families. As a bilingual Spanish-English therapist, she creates a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore life's challenges with compassion and curiosity. Ally is currently an intern and will be coming on as a staff therapist this summer. She can be reached at allym@amandaatkinschicago.com.