What Is Body Grief?
Body grief might sound like a strange term, but it’s a real thing that many of us experience. It's that feeling of sadness or frustration when our bodies change in ways we didn’t expect or don’t want. Let’s dive into what body grief is all about, share some examples, and talk about how a dietitian can help you through it.
Body grief is the emotional response we have to changes in our bodies. These changes can happen for many reasons, like:
Aging: Getting older brings changes in how we look and feel.
Illness or Injury: Chronic illnesses or sudden injuries can change how our bodies work.
Weight Changes: Weight gains or losses can interfere with our self-image or identity.
Pregnancy and Childbirth: These bring major physical changes and challenges.
Examples of Body Grief
Body grief can happen to anyone and can look different for everyone. Here are some common examples:
Postpartum Changes: New parents may grieve their pre-pregnancy bodies, dealing with stretch marks, weight gain, and not to the mention the grief parents can feel related to reduced bodily autonomy.
Chronic Illness: Someone with a chronic illness like arthritis might miss a past version of themself that was pain-free.
Weight Gain: A person might feel a deep sense of loss when their favorite clothes no longer fit, or when they notice themselves avoiding social situations because they’re self-conscious about their appearance
How Can a Dietitian Help with Body Grief?
Dietitians are great at helping people cope with body grief. Here’s how they can make a difference:
Emotional Support: Dietitians can provide a safe space to express and process feelings of sadness, frustration, and loss related to body changes. We can help connect how body grief may be impacting other aspects of life such as your relationship with food and body image.
Building Self-Compassion: They guide you in developing self-compassion and acceptance, helping you to treat yourself with kindness during difficult times.
Education: Dietitians can help you understand the natural changes your body goes through.
Body grief is a real and often overlooked part of our emotional health. It’s important to recognize and address these feelings to build a healthy relationship with our bodies. By being kind to yourself and seeking support, you can learn to appreciate your body and find peace with its changes.
More resources on body grief:
https://www.jaynemattingly.com/
https://www.rachaelhartleynutrition.com/blog/stages-of-grief-in-body-acceptance
Contact Us
Emilee Young is an eating disorder dietitian and founder of Embrace Nutrition Counseling. She supports all ages and genders in healing their relationship with food and embracing their natural body size. She specializes in binge eating disorder and works from a Health at Every Size and Intuitive Eating framework.
Embrace Nutrition Counseling provides virtual nutrition counseling to residents in Virginia, DC, and Maryland. Including Virginia Beach, Roanoke, Blacksburg, Charlottesville, and Richmond Virginia.
Services offered include support for:
Eating disorders
Disordered Eating
Eating challenges related to anxiety, depression, and trauma
Prenatal & Postpartum Care
