Diet Culture and Dentistry
Diet culture is a set of cultural myths around food, weight, and health. It focuses on thinness as an ideal, and labels foods and behaviors as either “good” or “bad.”
Description
Diet and wellness culture seems to have taken over our conservations, social media feeds, and is encroaching our work spaces too. The toxic effects of diet culture can have serious and long-lasting consequences which include increase risk of heart disease, insulin resistance, nutritional deficiencies, an obsession with food and disordered eating habits. There can be feelings of unworthiness, guilt and shame, negative body image and poor mental health
Healthcare professionals can also play a role in challenging diet culture by encouraging overall healthful behavior changes while being conscious of social determinants of health that influence these approaches.
How can we identify wellness practices that impact oral health, and what is our role as dental professionals?
Presenters
Dr Priyal Shah is a dual qualified dentist and dietitian with a passion for bridging the gap between nutrition and oral health.