The American education system perpetuates diet culture

Sources’ names have been changed for anonymity.

What we are taught throughout elementary, middle, and high school greatly affects our lifelong beliefs and values. For as long as I can remember, there have been set rules implemented by teachers and administrators that students must follow during the school day. These rules are put in place to keep students and staff safe, happy, and healthy. 

As students, we must take classes, obtain certain credits, and score well on exams to achieve academic success. We are discouraged from challenging authority figures. But what happens when the education system that claims to guide, support, and protect students is actually doing the opposite?

A study conducted by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders concluded that 11% of high school students have been diagnosed with a clinically significant eating disorder. However, the subject of disordered eating is frequently not taken into consideration when designing school curricula. 

Specifically, in the Montgomery County Public School system, a unit in the mandatory health class that focuses on nutrition and fitness solely prioritizes measuring caloric consumption and physical activity levels — potentially triggering practices for someone with an eating disorder or at risk of developing one. Counting calories, analyzing nutrition labels, and monitoring physical activity has the potential to worsen disordered behaviors. 

“Numbers — they are so important to our society, but can be so detrimental for those struggling with eating disorders. Counting calories ruined my relationship with food, and every day I fight to gain back control over my thoughts,” Tina said. “Our generation is in desperate need of guidance and strength, and correcting school curriculum is the first step to achieve that.”

Students are not given a choice on whether they would like to participate in these activities, because in some courses, teachers are likely to unknowingly assign triggering material to students for a grade. Teachers should be required to review and understand these sensitive subjects before addressing them in the classroom. They often don’t understand the problem with forcing kids to engage in these practices. 

“A teacher I had forced students to calculate their Body Mass Index and our basic metabolic rate. Students were comparing their weight and results to their classmates by the end of class,” Caitlin said. “My BMI was slightly higher than ‘normal,’ even though I exercise often. That assignment made me dread that class and resent my teacher.”

Not only is calculating Body Mass Index an unreliable indicator of health, but in a classroom setting, it increases the likelihood of students feeling uncomfortable and judged by their peers. 

Many students in school have also experience discomfort regarding their food choices at lunch periods. Using labels like “unhealthy” and “healthy” can permanently damage a child’s view of certain foods. Being told that you are allowed to have however many vegetables that you want but only a specific amount of candy can be the catalyst of a negative relationship with food. 

Staff members add to this problem — often making remorseless comments when students did not follow their recommendations. What they fail to realize is how the trace of judgement in their voices negatively affects students and their view of food. 

All of the negativity in school systems regarding gaining weight have caused students to feel as if weight gain is the enemy. When you lose weight, you are healthy, but when you gain weight, it's automatically a problem.

This idea is rooted in fatphobia, and is fed to young people before they can even process what their bodies look like, causing them to subconsciously judge themselves and others as they grow up.

Students should never feel judged or ashamed of themselves or their bodies in a school setting.  It is the job of staff members to ensure all kids feel welcomed and accepted in their academic environment.

Schools, and their curricula, need to be more inclusive and sensitive to all students. It is unacceptable for students to feel humiliated or uncomfortable in a school setting as a result of their physical appearance, and school systems must do better to ensure student’s mental and physical health are respected and cared for. People should not feel as if their mental stability is at risk when pursuing an education.