8 Anti-Diet books to add to your shelf in 2021

1. Anti-Diet
   By Christy Harrison

   If you read one book on this list, Anti-Diet is my top pick. I couldn’t wait for this book to come out at the end of 2019 and it did not disappoint!
   Anti-Diet dietitian, host of the popular Food Psych podcast and key figure in the Anti-Diet movement Christy Harrison (also one of my idols!) takes on diet culture and all its related systems of oppression in this whirlwind guide to reclaiming your life from the ‘Life Thief’. Packed with personal stories and scientific research, this book is all the evidence you really need to dropout of diet culture once and for all.

2. Beyond Beautiful
   By Anuschka Rees

   A highly accessible and relatable book all about body image, Beyond Beautiful is a deep dive into beauty standards and a practical guide to overcoming them. Anuschka Rees shares both the psychology and history behind society’s current (largely unachievable) beauty standards interweaving this with practical ‘toolboxes’ to help you address your body image concerns.

3. More Than a Body
   By Lexie and Lindsay Kite

   Body image experts and co-founders of the non-profit Beauty Redefined, Lexie and Lindsay Kite’s new book helps you to free yourself from the constraints of self-objectification. From media consumption to health and fitness to self-compassion, they share practical advice that goes beyond “body positivity” to help readers develop body image resilience.

4. Just Eat It/ How to Just Eat It
   By Laura Thomas

   Anti-Diet Nutritionist Laura Thomas’ books Just Eat It and its new follow up How to Just Eat It are comprehensive yet accessible guides to Intuitive Eating and Anti-Diet living. Whilst the former is more of an explainer with exercises sprinkled in, the latter leans more towards a workbook.

5. Train Happy
   By Tally Rye

   Anti-diet personal trainer and intuitive movement advocate Tally Rye shares a revolutionary no shame, no guilt, no diet approach to personal fitness, seeking to change your mindset towards exercise as self-care rather than the traditional self-punishment narrative.

6. Fitness for Every Body – Out April 2021
   By Meg Boggs

   Plus-sized fitness influencer Meg Boggs shares her personal story and how everybody can achieve fitness no matter their body size. This book includes inclusive step-by-step workouts and reminds the reader that thin doesn’t automatically equal fit and anyone can be an athlete.

7. Fattily Ever After
   By Stephanie Yeboah

   In her book, freelance journalist and blogger Stephanie Yeboah speaks openly and courageously about her own experience of navigating life as a black, plus-sized woman and how she found self-acceptance in a world where judgement and discrimination are rife.

8. Happy Fat
   By Sofie Hagen

   In this part-memoir, part-social commentary, Danish comedian and queer fat activist Sofie Hagen shares how they found self-acceptance in a fatphobic society. 

 

 

Written by Sophie Smith

Eating disorders advocate and lived experience advisor

@SophieClare1103 on Twitter