Episode 234: The Problem with Mainstream Body Positivity with Chrissy King

”You can have all the self-love in the world, and that does not protect you from systemic harm.”

Body positivity is everywhere online, but is it really helping us heal? This episode explores why the mainstream body positivity message so often leaves so many feeling excluded, unsupported, or even more frustrated than before. Along with my guest, Chrissy King, we explore how body liberation offers something deeper: a collective, inclusive path that acknowledges real-world struggles and doesn’t ignore the systems impacting how we feel in our bodies.

We dig into my own shifting perspective, and what it really means to move beyond individual confidence boosts. Chrissy shares her lived experience and her expertise to reveal why true body healing means looking beyond ourselves – and why focusing only on “just love your body” misses the mark, especially for those most marginalized. This episode gives you practical ways to challenge how you see your body, consider the bigger picture, and start healing in a way that’s genuinely achievable.

What You’ll Learn:

• How the body positivity movement began, how it’s been co-opted, and why it often falls short
• Why mainstream body positivity focuses too much on individual confidence and not enough on systemic challenges
• The importance of thinking collectively: healing goes beyond just ourselves and requires considering how everyone gets to exist in the world
• Ways intersectionality shapes our experience, and why focusing only on individual body image is incomplete
• How diet culture and fatphobia are rooted in racism and white supremacy, and why dismantling these systems of oppression benefits all of us
• Chrissy’s take on Serena Williams’ partnership with a GLP-1 company
• Why ongoing unlearning, compassion, and slow growth are essential to real body liberation work

Resources:

• Chrissy’s Instagram
• Chrissy’s TikTok
• Chrissy’s Substack
• The Body Liberation Project by Chrissy King
• The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
• Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings

If you’ve ever thought, “Why is it so hard to stop eating when I’m full?” – you’re not alone. And spoiler alert: it’s not about willpower or control. It goes so much deeper than that. Grab the free Honoring Fullness Checklist right now at DietCultureRebel.com/Checklist to start building a more positive relationship with food.

Come back next week for another episode and connect with me over on Instagram at @diet.culture.rebel.

Struggling with food, but not sure where to start?

You don’t have to feel 100% ready to get support. If you’re tired of obsessing over food or feeling stuck in the diet cycle, my team of Registered Dietitians is here to help. We offer one-on-one nutrition counseling—and we accept insurance! Spots are limited, so head to https://dietculturerebel.com/insurance to see if we’re covered in your state and learn how to get started.