E9 Diet Culture Part 2: Thinness by Prescription

Today's conversation with hosts  Kori, Zab, and Jen, delves into the complex relationship between body image, mental health, and societal pressures, particularly in the context of diet culture and the impact of the pandemic on eating disorders. The speakers discuss the evolution of diet culture, the rise of orthorexia, and the challenges faced by individuals, especially women, in navigating health choices amidst societal expectations. They also highlight the importance of self-acceptance and the need for a more inclusive understanding of beauty and health.    Show Notes: Takeaways  The pressure to conform to societal beauty standards can lead to mental health issues. Serena Williams' choice to use GLP-1 medication highlights the complexities of health decisions. Diets are often designed to fail, leading to feelings of shame and inadequacy. The pandemic has exacerbated eating disorders, particularly among young girls. Orthorexia is an unhealthy obsession with eating pure or healthy foods. Self-acceptance is crucial in combating the negative effects of diet culture. The wellness industry often promotes unrealistic standards of health and beauty. Access to healthy food options remains a classist issue. The moralization of food can lead to anxiety and guilt around eating. Community and support are essential for fostering a healthy relationship with food.   Chapters  00:00 Audience Engagement and Future Plans 00:14 Health Challenges and Personal Stories 01:05 The Painful Journey: Kidney Stones and Resilience 05:25 Diet Culture: A Historical Perspective 07:56 The Impact of the Pandemic on Health and Diet  17:19 Emerging Trends in Clean Eating and Wellness 19:23 Exploring Biohacking and Wellness Tracking  23:12 The Impact of the Pandemic on Eating Disorders 30:34 Understanding Orthorexia and Its Implications 34:18 The Evolution of Body Positivity 37:44 The Pressure of Postpartum Body Image 41:05 Embracing Aging and Body Transformation 44:26 Intersectionality in Body Image and Health 48:06The Appeal and Risks of GLP-1 Medications 55:02 Understanding the Side Effects of Weight Loss Drugs 56:34The Ozempic Debate: Health Risks vs. Weight Loss 58:28 Long-Term Effects and Unknown Risks 01:00:31 Ethical Considerations in Weight Loss Medications 01:03:08 Access and Coverage: Who Gets Ozempic? 01:05:04 The Bigger Picture: Health Beyond Weight 01:09:33 Community, Connection, and Holistic Health 01:09:33 Body Neutrality and Health at Every Size 01:11:55 The Role of Food and Emotional Well-Being 01:13:46 Wrapping Up: A Call for Compassionate Care    References  ABC News. (2025, August 31). As athletes like Serena Williams promote Ozempic, experts say our obsession with weight loss is worse than ever. ABC News. ABC Cantor, C. (2024, October 16). The rise of Ozempic for weight loss sparks ethical concerns. Columbia University Department of Psychiatry. columbiapsychiatry.org Coombs, D. S., & Cassilo, D. (2017). Athletes and/or activists: LeBron James and Serena Williams's framing in sports media. Howard Journal of Communications, 28(4), 367–384. https://doi.org/10.1080/10646175.2017.1315681 Critical discourse analysis of social media advertisements for GLP‑1 receptor agonist weight loss drugs: implications for public perceptions and health communication. (2025). BMC Public Health, 25, Article 24197. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889‑025‑24197‑8 BioMed Central                                                                                                                                                 Healthline. (2025). Why Serena Williams went public about losing weight with Zepbound. Healthline. Healthline                                                                                                                                           Inequalities in the provision of GLP‑1 receptor agonists for the treatment of obesity. (2023). [Journal]. PubMed Central. PMC                                                                                                                                                 Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ). (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating habits and food practices in Québec. https://www.inspq.qc.ca/publications/impact-covid19-eating-habits Marie Claire. (2025). Serena Williams is using a GLP‑1 as Ro’s new ambassador. Marie Claire. Marie Claire People. (2025). Serena Williams reveals she lost 31‑lbs using weight‑loss medication: ‘I feel great’ (Exclusive). People. People.com Roumeliotis, N., Carwana, M., Charland, K., Trudeau, O., Benigeri, M., Diop, M., Agostino, H., Zinszer, K., Amsdr, I., Forgeot d’Arc, B., Côté, S., Basta, N. E., Fontela, P., Gantt, S., Klassen, T. P., Quach, C., Doan, Q., & the POPCORN Investigators. (2024). Pandemic stringency measures and hospital admissions for eating disorders. JAMA Pediatrics, 178(9), 879‑887. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.2044 Sky Sports. (2020). Serena Williams talks Black Lives Matter, body positivity and female empowerment | Tennis News. Sky Sports. Sky Sports Smits, M. M., & Van Raalte, D. H. (2021). Safety of Semaglutide. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12, 786732. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.786732 PubMed Ethics of GLP-1’s references The Guardian. (2025, August). Serena Williams built her legacy on defiance. Why lend it to Ozempic culture? The Guardian. The Guardian Warin, M., Bombak, A., & George, B. (2024). Injecting care and negotiating pleasures with weight loss pharmaceuticals. Body & Society, 30(3), 74‑100. https://doi.org/10.1177/07255136241285046 SAGE Journals What is orthorexia nervosa?. Eating Disorders Victoria. (2024, May 29). https://eatingdisorders.org.au/eating-disorders-a-z/orthorexia/  Yücel, Ü. Ö., & Yücel, M. (2022). Changes in diet, lifestyle, and Orthorexia Nervosa tendency  during the COVID-19 pandemic: A web-based study. Clinical nutrition ESPEN, 49, 241–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.04.011 Contact Information: Find Murder of Crones on You Tube, Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram.  Email : [email protected]   Special Thanks to www.dinnissendesign.com for Zabrina’s use of their show room for recording. Check them out for all your interior design needs. Dinnissen Design is located in Vancouver and Castlegar BC.