It’s no secret that women grapple with eating issues in disproportionately higher numbers than men. Although the pressure placed on us by society to conform our bodies to a certain standard seems to be declining, it still somehow feels insurmountable. For some, disordered eating habits are more than just a mechanism for controlling one’s body, they’re a means for exerting control over one’s life. And it’s undeniable that, worldwide, women are granted far less self-autonomy than men.
I personally experienced dysfunctional eating habits throughout high school and college. My busy schedule and unstable body image led me to skip meals, try outrageous diets, and also talk about them constantly. It took me a while to realize that my negative self-talk and value-based commentary on food were not only affecting me, but were also harmful to my friends’ relationships with food and their bodies. Now, I’ve carried that lesson with me into the workforce by monitoring how I talk about myself (and what’s in my tupperware) while in the office.
Contemporary Media Creates a Culture of Body Image Issues
According to the Dove Global Beauty and Confidence Report, 70% of women report a decline in body confidence due to the media portraying unrealistic body standards. From tabloids at the grocery store checkout about a celebrity’s weight gain to morning news segments on dieting fads to feeds filled with airbrushed models and influencers, we’ve been conditioned to want to be thinner.
Although it may be taboo to mention, it feels almost obvious to say: the majority of women and many men have struggled with disordered eating in their lives. The National Eating Disorder Association clarifies “disordered eating refers to abnormal eating patterns that do not meet the criteria for an eating disorder, while an eating disorder is a clinical diagnosis.” However, those recovering from either condition are prone to similar triggers, many of which are prevalent in the majority of office environments.
Are Your Office Conversations About Food Hurtful or Helpful?
It’s ingrained in us as women to engage in constant commentary on food. We chat with our co-workers about new methods for weight loss. We talk about how we’re only going to eat salad in preparation for our beach-bound PTO. We pressure one another to indulge sweets or greasy food during lunch hour.
While these types of conversations seem harmless and even feel like an easy topic to connect with coworkers on, refraining from values-based assertions on food or weight is a simple way to support women and others suffering from disordered eating in your organization. Avoiding these discussions can be hugely beneficial to the mental and physical health of the 10% of American women that battle eating disorders and the 65% of American women that report disordered eating habits (Science Daily). Given those statistics, it’s safe to assume that more than a few of your coworkers don’t appreciate you giving your input on what they picked up from the Whole Foods hot bar for lunch.
4 Ways to Improve Your Office’s Culture in Regards to Body Image Issues
Aside from individually changing your discourse around food and bodies in the office, you can also make organizational changes to create a safer space for those who struggle with food-related triggers:
- Make food-centric bonding events optional and provide a variety of options
- For some, the office’s annual Thanksgiving potluck party is one of the best days of the year. For others, it’s an uncomfortable event. Let your employees choose the level they want to engage at by offering an assortment of different foods and even allowing a work-from-home option for the day.
- Avoid weight-loss competitions
- Ditch the Dunder-Mifflin-esque group weigh-ins. Instead, create camaraderie with activities like volunteering or game night.
- Allow medical leave for more serious issues
- Ensure that your organization has infrastructure for leave in the case of severe mental or physical health problems. Go a step further by providing your managers with social consciousness training in order to nurture an environment where your employees feel comfortable requesting leave when and if the time comes.
- Include informational resources on eating disorders and disordered eating in onboardings and trainings
- Include a few slides educating your employees on body image and eating issues in your onboarding deck in an effort to increase empathy and awareness in your office. Also include details on any leave that is provided for such matters.
In any workplace, it’s important to strike a balance between creating a safe environment and allowing for open dialogues. Whether you’re a VP, a manager, or an entry-level professional, the best way to create change is to simply lead by example and treat employees like people, not workers.
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