skinny ain't cheap: 100 years of dieting
zoeunlimited・20 minutes read
Historically, different body types have been associated with varying ideals of beauty and social status, with diet culture evolving over time from cherishing plumpness to valuing thinness. The shift in beauty standards has been influenced by factors such as celebrity endorsements, leading to the commodification of extreme diets and products that perpetuate a class-based divide in society.
Insights
- Throughout history, the perception of body weight has shifted significantly, with plumpness once symbolizing fertility and health, transitioning to thinness being associated with beauty and wealth in modern times.
- The evolution of diet culture has been marked by various trends and products, from calorie counting and meal replacement shakes to extreme diets and diet pills, reflecting a changing relationship between dieting, beauty ideals, and class distinctions over the years.
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Recent questions
How has the perception of body fat changed over time?
Body fat was once associated with goddess-like traits, fertility, and health. However, it later became linked to poverty, disease, and old age. The shift in beauty ideals over the last 100 years has seen a transition from curves being desirable to thinness being the new standard.
What are some historical diet trends?
Throughout history, diet culture has evolved from calorie counting and slimming oils to meal replacement products like SEO in the 1960s. The market saw the rise of artificial sweeteners, diet sodas, and pills containing amphetamines for weight loss.
How has the diet industry transformed over time?
The diet industry has undergone significant changes, from the emergence of meal replacement products in the 1960s to the rise of extreme diets like the 100-calorie diet and liquid protein fast in later years. Trends like juice cleanses and flat tummy teas in the 2000s have perpetuated a class divide based on affordability.
What are some notable figures associated with diet culture?
Influential figures like Dr. Lulu Hunter Peters, Dr. Max Jacobson, and celebrities like Oprah Winfrey have played significant roles in shaping diet culture. Dr. Jacobson's injections were sought after by President Kennedy and The Rolling Stones, while Oprah's weight loss journey was showcased on TV.
How did the 1920s impact diet culture?
The 1920s marked a significant era for diet culture with the rise of flappers and Dr. Lulu Hunter Peters' calorie counting book. This period saw a shift towards slim bodies as the ideal, setting the stage for future diet trends and beauty standards.
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Summary
00:00
"Evolution of Beauty Ideals and Diet Culture"
- An 8 oz glass of fresa contains only two calories with no sugar, providing satisfaction.
- Historically, having fat on the body was considered a trait of goddesses 3,000 years ago.
- Plumpness was viewed as a feminine trait symbolizing fertility and health 200 years ago.
- Thinness was linked to poverty, disease, and old age in the past.
- OIC, a skinny wonder drug, is now endorsed by celebrities like Oprah, becoming an urban legend.
- The last 100 years have seen a shift in beauty ideals from curves to thinness.
- The evolution of diet culture includes calorie counting, slimming oils, pills, Weight Watchers, and now OIC.
- The association between dieting and class has transformed over time.
- The 1920s marked a significant era for diet culture with the rise of flappers and Dr. Lulu Hunter Peters' calorie counting book.
- The 1960s saw the emergence of diet lunches and meal replacement shakes like SEO with innovative flavors.
17:17
Evolution of Diet Trends in America
- In 1961, the US market saw over 100 meal replacement products, marking the start of a $6 billion industry and the rise of artificial sweeteners.
- Diet Coke's introduction led to a new market of diet sodas, while diet pills containing amphetamines gained popularity for increasing metabolism, despite being prescribed for depression.
- Dr. Max Jacobson's injections of B vitamins, hormones, and methenamine for energy and weight control were sought after by influential figures like President Kennedy and The Rolling Stones.
- Weight Watchers went public in 1962, attracting 400 members within a year, and by the 1970s, obesity rates rose despite the abundance of diet products and fashion trends emphasizing slim bodies.
- Extreme diets like a 100-calorie diet and liquid protein fast gained attention, with Oprah Winfrey showcasing her weight loss on TV, leading to anorexia becoming a media focus in the '90s.
- The 2000s saw thinness becoming a norm, commodified through products like juice cleanses and flat tummy teas, perpetuating a class divide based on the ability to afford these trends.
