Would you start another diet if you knew it would probably fail? Mrs D is Not on a Diet is essential reading for anyone who has ever dieted or felt their body wasn’t good enough.
Drawing on her own experience with extreme dieting and drastic weight loss, Lotta reveals the hidden toll of chasing societal ideals of thinness. While her weight loss brought endless praise, no one knew what she had to do to maintain it.
Lotta began asking fundamental questions she’d never considered before; why do we believe that being healthy means being skinny? Why do we think any fat on our body is bad? Why do so many of us hate our bodies? Why do we spend so much time, money and energy trying to shrink ourselves? The answers surprised and angered her, but ultimately empowered her.
“I have discovered there is zero proof that any diets work long term,” she says.
“There is also this prevailing myth that the whole world seems to believe (including doctors) that skinny bodies are healthier… yet apparently the science doesn’t back this up.”
“Meanwhile billions and billions of dollars are being earned by people selling us this myth of skinny. Almost every single woman I know is trying to shrink her body. They’re intermittent fasting, taking part in ‘Biggest Loser’ comps, doing brown rice cleanses, or getting medical weight-loss treatments. Not to mention feeling happy if they get sick or have to restrict food prior to a medical procedure - purely because of the weight loss it will bring.”
“I wanted to chart how I went as I unpicked this whole issue, delved deeper into the science to make the facts clear, and to make peace with my body no matter what size it is,” she says.
This book is more than a memoir, it’s a thought-provoking examination of the cultural beliefs that equate health with thinness. Through her candid reflections, Lotta challenges readers to question their own attitudes towards their bodies and the persuasive diet culture. Her journey from self-criticism to acceptance is enlightening.
Shifting the cultural norm of diet culture is hard to do, but it isn’t impossible, she says.
“There are a few key behaviours that I have learned we should all stop doing immediately and completely - for example labelling foods as ‘good’ and ‘bad’, complimenting weight loss and fixating on the number on the scale…”
After all, as Lotta explains, it used to be normal to smoke tobacco everywhere - doctors would even recommend cigarettes to their patients! This no longer happens because we woke up to the immense harm tobacco causes.
With sharp insights and a relatable voice, Lotta’s narrative offers validation for anyone who has ever struggled with their body image. If America Ferrera’s famous monologue in the movie Barbie resonated with you, you’ll love Lotta’s latest offering!
Lotta Dann is the author of Mrs D is Going Without, Mrs D is Going Within and The Wine O'Clock Myth: The truth you need to know about women & alcohol.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy
Allen & Unwin