Strategy for obesity or eating disorders?

Yesterday, the government revealed its new obesity plan which aims to get the nation fit and healthy again to better protect them against coronavirus. The Department of Health and Social Care published all the details of the 12 week government obesity plan, which is set to include calories displays on restaurant menus and an end to 'buy one get one free' supermarket deals on food high in salt or sugar. Alongside this, they have launched the 'Better Health' campaign, which involves a new NHS weight loss plan 'to help you start healthier eating habits, to be more active and start losing weight. these plans have come to the government's agenda recently as research revealed a link between obesity and a greater risk of serious illness or death from coronavirus. 

Additionally, there will be the introduction of calorie labelling on alcohol before the end of the year. This is because, according to the NHS, nearly 10% of our calorie intake of those who drink comes from alcohol and the majority of the public are not aware of the calorie content in alcoholic drinks. There will also be a ban on adverts promoting food that's high in fat, sugar or salt on television and online before 9pm. 

But what will this really do? We have known for years what foods are healthy and unhealthy. We don't need a nanny state to further provoke this. As a person who is in and out of recovery from an eating disorder, I am going to fall the true victim to this strategy. This strategy only is a perpetuation of diet culture, a culture that I have been clawing my way out of ever since I was predisposed to it when I was 18 years old and had low self-esteem. With the use of language such as 'clamping down' on obesity and 'waging war', it can make people who struggle with their weight feel threatened. 

Eating disorder charity, Beat suggests that the new government regulations could have a substantially negative impact on the 1.5 million people living with an eating disorder in the UK. The charity's Chief Executive Andrew Radford explains, "We recognise the importance of addressing obesity, but the risks of stigmatising and poorly-considered campaigns on those affected by eating disorders must be taken into account." 

I have always been open with my struggle towards my relationship with food, from publishing my poetry which I wrote in my darkest times to posting on social media. For so long last year, I ate 400 calories a day and felt so caught up in bulimic tendencies which progressed towards anorexia, resulting in the need for medical attention. I am pleased to say that now I am in a better mindset, however, the thoughts have always creeped in from time to time. This being seen especially in lockdown and I worry that Johnson's bright new strategy will plunge me deeper in my thoughts. 

I have spent a year working on avoiding weight loss apps, counting calories and mending my relationship with food. I now ask myself, what for? For the government to further shove it in my face at an already vulnerable and anxious time where we are returning to normality. This strategy is going to overwhelm and alienate myself and many others with eating disorders to return to a normal and go out to eat. Eating out is probably the biggest challenge for someone with this illness and it is only something that I have recently been able to tackle. That is after a year's worth of work.

Going to a restaurant to eat a salad is a huge milestone for someone with an eating disorder. But with calorie counting now mandatory, there is a very slim chance of eating out being an option. It will take the enjoyment out of food and be extremely triggering. For me and many others, the social aspect of eating out will be transformed into an anxiety-inducing event. There will be no safe choices or safe food as calories will be glaring at every waking moment. 

I remember the time when I tackled eating out when I was in the pitfire of my eating disorder at just around 8 stone. I planned it out in my head and ordered grilled vegetable skewers. A simple event like that required so much mental logistics to even get out the house and fight the voices which forced me into my cocoon. I remember feeling so proud of myself after I did it but also the overwhelming guilt of disobeying the thoughts to starve myself. It is crazy that small things like this are massive for people with eating disorders. But I know that these small steps would not even have a slim chance of happening if the calories of those skewers were plastered over menus. A key reason why after a year I still do not eat in wetherspoons. The calorie count staring back at me gives fuel to the thoughts. 

I am not disregarding the issue of obesity as I understand it is a big issue just like being underweight is. However, I do think that there needs to be targeted measures. If people are going to a restaurant, the objective is to enjoy yourselves. I think that if people want a menu that has calories on it then that should be an optional thing. Not something that is mandatory. The government has to consult eating disorder experts when drawing up measures. Obesity is not something that is an outcome of laziness but can be an underlying cause of mental health conditions and social inequality. Tackle that rather than stigmatising those who are obese. 

And as with the introduction of prominent calorie labelling in shops? The fact is that everyday people with eating disorders fight an internal battle in the supermarket because of food labels. Whilst my thoughts are not as prominent as they were last summer, they are there. More prominent food labels and calorie labelling will only make them stronger. Shopping is a continuous struggle for those tackling this illness where it can take several hours to buy a single product that is not in our list of 'safe' foods. Last year, I would constantly research calories beforehand and buy things with fewer calories than other comparable foods. The supermarkets became a library for my eating disorder, walking in there to browse the products and I can't even imagine what this will now be like in restaurants. 

For anyone who is in the midst of the pitfire of their disorder, your thoughts will seem so much less irrational at the moment and a lot more rational. You will want to feed into them but those thoughts will lead you down a miserable, dark, lonely path and remove the joy from life. So please tell those thoughts to 'fuck off' as well as the government. I know that as these policies are implemented, I will have to tell them to 'fuck off' that bit more louder and bit more stronger. I will have to constantly reassure myself that there is no good or bad foods. I will have to constantly try and not fall victim to this diet culture that the government is encouraging more at the moment. A culture that nearly killed me last summer and grew on my insecurities.