Author: Kayla Bell, MPH, RD, LD
You’re told to ‘fight aging’ with pricey products, cut carbs after 40, and chase the body you had at 25. But what if all these messages are making you sicker—not stronger?
Diet culture is a belief system that elevates thinness, restricts foods, and moralizes body size and weight. Unfortunately, diet culture is all around us, and it has been well documented to erode physical and mental health.
Ageism involves stereotyping or discriminating against people because of age. Similar to diet culture, we are surrounded by ageist messages. Research has determined that ageism contributes to poorer self-rated health, higher chronic stress load, and even earlier mortality.
When these dubious forces intersect, older adults receive a double dose of dangerous messages that their bodies are “wrong” unless they remain both thin and ageless. The result? Heightened risk for disordered eating, malnutrition, and delayed medical care.
Contrary to popular belief, large reviews show that 2 %–8% of women over 40 meet full criteria for an eating disorder, with binge eating disorder the most prevalent. Eating disorders do not age out. Eating disorders impact individuals of all ages.
Diet culture and ageist messages and their associated risks
| Diet culture message | Nutrition & health fallout |
| “Midlife weight gain is failure – reverse it fast.” | Crash diets during can accelerate losses in lean mass and bone mineral density, increasing fracture risk. |
| “Anti-aging = calorie cutting.” | Chronic low energy intake lowers resting metabolic rate and compromises protein synthesis needed to preserve muscle. |
| “Just lose weight to fix every symptom.” | Weight-centric counseling is linked to healthcare avoidance and reduced patient-provider trust, especially among higher weight adults. |
| “Longevity supplements will keep you young and slim.” | The $1.8 trillion wellness market blends legitimate science with hype, often pushing pricey products over balanced dietary patterns. |
How wellness culture and longevity medicine contribute
If contending with diet culture and ageism weren’t enough, we also must deal with wellness culture and longevity medicine. Wellness culture is a set of values that equates wellness with moral goodness and posits certain behaviors – and a certain type of body – as superior and virtuous compared to others.
Longevity medicine is an emerging field focusing on extending healthy lifespans (healthspans). Longevity medicine aims to prevent aging and delay age-related diseases, encompassing biogerontology, geoscience, and preventive and functional medicine. Longevity medicine includes optimizing diet and supplementation for “healthy” aging.
| Wellness Culture | Longevity Medicine |
| Rigid, Depriving Food Rules | Rigid, Depriving Food Rules |
| Medicalization of Normal Body Changes | Medicalization of Normal Aging |
| Sale of Supplements | Sale of Supplements |
| Superfoods/Demonizing Foods | Superfoods/Demonizing Foods |
Both wellness culture and longevity medicine perpetuate the idea that we are solely responsible for, and able to, change and control our health through rigorous effort, and diet and exercise prescriptions. Thinness continues to be an underlying and quiet priority.
It is important to understand and recognize diet culture, ageism, wellness culture and longevity medicine for what they are – billion-dollar industries that prey off our insecurities and cause society more harm than good.
Practical mindset shifts
Below are a few examples of ways to shift thinking to reflect your values and priorities, while rejecting diet culture and ageism messages.
| Replace … | With … |
| “I need to lose 15 lbs before my next physical.” | “I’m working on strength and stamina so I can make the most of my time with my grandkids.” |
| “No carbs after 6 PM.” | “Deprivation doesn’t feel good. Evening meals will feature all the food groups, including grains and starches.” |
| “Anti-aging detox challenge.” | “Daily hydration, adequate sleep, and joyful movement are my long-game tools.” |
When to seek professional care
Sometimes conforming to ageism and diet culture can spiral too far and become a dangerous obsession. It is important to seek help if you experience the following:
- Persistent food rules, shame, or body anxiety at any age.
- Rapid weight change (loss or gain) without medical explanation.
- GI symptoms, sleep disruption, or bone pain alongside restrictive eating.
The Eating Disorder Institute of Las Vegas offers weight-neutral, age-affirming nutrition therapy, counseling, and medical oversight. Early intervention preserves bone, muscle, and metabolic health.
Final encouragement
Aging is not a pathology; it is a natural, meaningful stage of life. Nourishing your body—with protein to rebuild, carbs to energize, fats to protect, and micronutrients to heal—honors both your present needs and future potential. Reject the notion that you must stay perpetually “youthful” or “small” to be worthy. Your value is inherent, and wise nutrition is about nourishing the life you do want to live—full of strength, connection, and purpose.
References:
- Equip Health. (2025). What Is Diet Culture? Equip Health.
- Schwartz, J., et al. (2022). Experiences of Everyday Ageism and the Health of Older US Adults. JAMA Network Open. JAMA Network.
- Ober, A., et al. (2023). Update on the Epidemiology and Treatment of Eating Disorders in Midlife. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. PMC.
- Battaglini, C. L., et al. (2021). Exercise Mitigates Caloric-Restriction-Induced Bone Loss in Older Adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. PubMed.
- Tarasenko, Y. N., et al. (2024). Body Composition and Menopause Symptoms. Menopause. PubMed.
- Nutter, S., et al. (2023). Perceived Weight Stigma in Healthcare Settings. Obesity Science & Practice. PMC.
- McKinsey & Company. (2024). Trends Defining the $1.8 Trillion Global Wellness Market in 2024. McKinsey & Company.
- Harrison, C. (2023). The Wellness Trap: Break Free from Diet Culture, Disinformation, and Dubious Diagnoses, and Find Your True Well-Being. Little, Brown Spark.
- Enfield, D. (2025, April). The Intersection of Ageism and Diet Culture: Why Aging Increases Risk for Disordered Eating (but Doesn’t Have To!) [PowerPoint presentation]. EDRD Pro. https://edrdpro.com/courses/the-intersection-of-ageism-and-diet-culture-why-aging-increases-risk-for-disordered-eating/lessons/the-intersection-of-ageism-and-diet-culture-why-aging-increases-risk-for-disordered-eating-webinar/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10552830/
