International No Diet Day: Celebration of Body Acceptance and Diversity

International No Diet Day is celebrated every year on 6th May to commemorate the importance of body acceptance and diversity, irrespective of types and size. It is also a day to raise awareness about the various dieting disorders which exist such as anorexia and bulimia. We are living in a society that runs around appearance and size, that’s why this day help us to refocus on what is the real essence of life- a healthy lifestyle and self-love.

Historical Background: 

International No Diet Day was initiated by Mary Evans Young, director of the British anti-diet movement ‘Diet Breakers’, in 1992. Mary, who is also a feminist and author, had experienced anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder which causes victims to refuse food intake and to develop a fear of weight gain. After that she started to help people with similar problems, but also those who suffered from other sorts of disordered thinking concerning food and soma, to appreciate their bodies and to overcome noxious thoughts and behaviors. Originally, intended to be a UK-based event, International No Diet Day is now a worldwide and annual event. 

Purpose of this Day: 

This day is dedicated to promoting a healthy life style with a focus on health and participants of this celebration aim to:

• Question the idea of one "Right" body shape.

• Educate people on how to diet effectively and responsibly.

• Honor the victims of various types of eating disorders and weight-loss surgery.

• Spread awareness of weight discrimination, fat phobia and size bias.

• Take a one-day break from dieting.

How to Celebrate No Diet Day?

• Recognizing that your body is completely fine and beautiful and reduce your push towards shedding weight to make it look a certain way. According to my opinion, everybody is unique and special in their own way. 

• Don’t take much stress about how you can stay active and keep your body healthy. Just take a conscious diet daily.

• Focus on the positive side of your body instead of focusing on the negative aspects. Think about everything you like in yourself.

• So today cook & eat what you love, eat what you have always loved from childhood but were staying away from it because of diet or thinking about calories. Remember to keep it in optimum amount.

• Today, you can educate yourself on various eating disorders the youth suffer from which and can encourage people for self-love.

• Take this day to be kind with your body, relax more and do something that you love to remove all your worries out.

At last, I would like to say that any type of stigmatization can lead to a devalued social identity and victims run a high risk of deviance and mental problems that they may haven’t had before. So, be proud of who you are and not ashamed of how someone else sees you and also spread awareness about Responsible and Healthy Dieting.

Make this day Count and Celebrate Your Life!