No one gets to comment on your body

A lot of my clients lately have been talking about their fears about heading home for the holidays. They are experiencing anxiety related to family members making comments on how they look (this goes even for my clients who do not present with eating related concerns).

Firstly, commenting on someone's body is NEVER okay. It is never your place or business to comment on how someone looks- even if you believe what you're saying is a compliment. We are a society that is obsessed with thinness, and thinness is NOT associated with health (no matter how much diet culture wants us to believe it!)

So, for those of you who are struggling with this and whose parents and grandparents make comments on how you look, here are some things you can say:

1) I appreciate your concern, but I'd really rather not talk about my body.

2) I feel uncomfortable when you make comments about my body.

3) Is there something else we can talk about?

You can also exit the conversation. You are under no obligation to listen to people comment on your body. We are allowed to set boundaries that keep us healthy.