What is diet culture?
Diet culture is the set of social beliefs and values about health and weight and bodies that connects weight to worth. It teaches that certain body types are more desirable, that some foods are “good” and others are “bad,” and that restricting or disciplining oneself around eating is virtuous. In society, this often shows up through constant weight-loss messaging, glorification of “clean eating,” and the idea that self-worth is tied to body size.
Diet culture
Endorses body ideals and health ideals
Attaches stereotypes to body size
Promotes and normalises disordered eating
Thrives thanks to the industries which benefit
What diet culture looks like in sport
Diet culture in sport often masquerades as “discipline” or “dedication,” but it can undermine both athlete well-being and performance.
Focus on thinness/leanness: In many sports (aesthetic, endurance, weight-class), there’s an underlying belief that lighter = better performance.
Good vs. bad foods: Athletes can absorb rigid rules about what’s “clean” or “junk,” often tied to morality or discipline.
Sacrifice as identity: Restriction and hyper-control around food are sometimes glorified as a sign of commitment to the sport.
Normalisation of extremes: Behaviours like fasting, “cutting,” detoxing, or obsessing over body fat % are seen as normal preparation strategies.
Negative impacts
Physical health
Under-fuelling → low energy availability, RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), hormonal disruption, injuries, slower recovery.
Increased risk of stress fractures, immune suppression, fatigue.
Mental health
Higher risk of disordered eating and eating disorders.
Anxiety, guilt, or shame around food choices.
Obsession with weight or appearance that overshadows joy of sport.
Performance
Short-term gains (from weight loss or restriction) often lead to long-term declines: slower times, reduced strength, impaired focus.
Loss of longevity in sport due to burnout or injury.
Culture of silence
Athletes may feel they can’t speak up if struggling, as restriction is often rewarded or praised by coaches, peers, and media.
How diet culture gets reinforced in sport
Coaches and staff: Language around “ideal body type” or “needing to slim down.” etc.
Teammates: Peer comparisons, “joking” about body shape or meals.
Media & sponsorships: Highlighting athlete physiques, pushing “clean eating” or supplement-heavy approaches.
Rules & structure of sport: Weight categories, weigh-ins, costume requirements.
Replacing diet culture with a positive fuelling culture helps athletes thrive longer, healthier, and stronger.
Alternative approach: performance-focused nutrition
Replacing diet culture with a positive fuelling culture helps athletes thrive longer, healthier, and stronger.
Framing food as fuel, recovery, and enjoyment, not as a moral test.
Promoting body diversity within sport and focusing on function over form.
Coaches and support staff modelling balanced food attitudes.
Recognising that health and performance are supported by adequate fuelling, not restriction.
If you’re interested in another approach to your nutrition for training or Performance, and this sounds good, we’d love to hear from you!