There are many explanations for why nearly 70% of Americans are overweight (NHANES 1999-2000). When we add in the number of Americans battling anorexia or bulimia, we begin to see a bitter truth: our unhealthy relationships with food are not individual problems of "self-control" but an insidious problem within our culture that burdens us all. And the solutions that have been offered so far simply have not worked; in fact, they may be making things worse.

Let's briefly look at the facts. In the U.S., between 1960 and 2000:

• The dollars spent on weight loss related materials increased 1000%, from 5 billion dollars to 50 billion dollars (M.Maine, 2000)
• The incidence of obesity rose 50%, from 65 million to 97 million people (NHANES 1999-2000)
• The rate of increase in bulimia (in women 18 - 28) rose from 1% to 20% (ANAD)

As if that wasn't frightening enough, consider these statistics:

• 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat. 51% of 9 and 10 year old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet. (Mellin et. al, 1992)
• According to a recent study, over 50% of females between the ages of 18-25 would prefer to be run over by a truck then be fat, and 2/3 surveyed would rather be mean or stupid. (Graessar, 1996)

Where did this dramatic rise in disordered eating and unhealthy attitudes about food and weight come from? Is it poor modeling from parents? Is the fast food industry seducing us and the diet industry perpetuating food myths? Is it our "sedentary lifestyle" or our obsession with exercise? Is it our abundance? Are we more depressed and anxious? Is it a self-realized identity crisis? A spiritual void? Is it Oprah and Dr. Phil, Dateline and 20/20, Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and Calvin Klein?

Yes, yes and yes. Our unhealthy relationships with food come from all of these things and more. Trying to place blame on any one cause makes the situation worse because it minimizes the power these influences have in combination. We need to face the hard truth that our culture supports, influences, and even demands that we struggle with food. Once we acknowledge this truth and let go of the shame we feel for thinking we are so weak and "out of control," we will be able to do something about it. As individuals who are struggling and sometimes suffering greatly, we don't have time to wait for a cultural revolution. We have to create it and locate it in ourselves and in our communities.

Understanding how each of the above factors contributes to our unhealthy relationships with food is too much for a short article. So let's suspend disbelief, at least for the moment, and agree that they are all contributors. Now we can begin the basic steps necessary to regain (that's right, you once had it) use of your internal wisdom to guide your relationship with food. To change an unhealthy relationship with food, the last thing you want to do is focus on food. Let's face it; we all know what healthy food choices are. Disordered eating is not about not enough focus, it's about too much focus.

Look at the influences again. They all create an increased focus on food and weight. If there is any universal truth to disordered eating, it is that every individual struggling with food or weight issues is overly focused on food and weight. This excessive focus creates a disconnect between rational thinking and internal wisdom. When our rational thoughts and our internal wisdom are operating together (commonly referred to as intuition), we do not need a diet guru, a diet plan, or anyone to tell us how to eat and lose weight.

When we are operating intuitively, we can turn away from what our body doesn't need or want. The body already knows how to eat; we have just stopped tuning in to the body's signals. We need to return to eating from the inside out. It is time we returned to the intelligence we had as infants. We knew when we were hungry, we stopped eating when we were full (even spitting food out if our caregivers didn't get the point), and between meals we lived. Our internal voice told us what we liked, what we needed, and what we didn't. Our greatest teacher was experience. Our greatest need was support from our environment.

The first and most important step in re-discovering this internal wisdom is creating a Diet-Free Zone. This is particularly important in promoting growth and establishing life-long changes. How do you create a Diet-Free Zone?

1. Put away the scale. A major negative influence on our lives is the constant measuring. Have you ever been content with yourself when you've measured yourself against anything? Think about it. If you continue to weigh yourself, you will remain stuck in the diet mentality and life will continue to pass you by while you keep waiting to cross the finish line.
2. Remove the diet books and fitness/fashion magazines. It's time to listen to ourselves, not high-paid advertising executives who don't care about the negative influences of their hype on our lives just so long as we buy the products they sell.
3. Get rid or box up and store all clothing that does not fit you. Holding onto sizes we hope to get into again is just another way of stepping on the scale in the morning to make ourselves feel bad. Let yourself feel the freedom of knowing that what is in the closet will fit.
4. Use discretion and take action when viewing television. Change the channel, turn down the sound, turn your head, or turn the TV off every time an objectionable advertisement or show is on. Try taking a vacation from TV viewing, at least while learning about eating from the inside out. You will develop the inner strength to reject these potential negative influences without having to keep the television off (and you may find other more enjoyable things to do).

The Diet-Free Zone does not contain:

• Diet plans, diet gurus, diet pills, or diet anything.
• Food logs that create good and bad food lists.
• Weight Loss Challenges.
• Planned foods.
• Special foods, products, equipment, or supplements to buy.
• Calorie or fat counting.

By creating a Diet-Free zone around you, you are taking the first step in reclaiming your relationship with food from the negative influences throughout our culture. You'll begin to regain the internal wisdom to eat from the inside out.

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