The History of Intuitive Eating: A Therapist's Perspective

Intuitive eating, a concept that promotes a healthy relationship with food and body, has gained significant attention over the past few years. However, its roots go back several decades, with the term 'intuitive eating' first coined in the mid-1990s by two dietitians, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch.

The philosophy of intuitive eating is rooted in the idea of listening to your body's hunger and fullness cues, rather than adhering to external diet rules. This approach rejects dieting and the diet mentality, promoting a non-diet approach to food and health.

In the early days, intuitive eating was seen as a radical concept, especially as it challenged the prevailing diet culture. But as research began to unveil the adverse effects of dieting on mental health, the concept of intuitive eating started gaining credibility in the therapeutic community.

The term “intutive eating” was created in 1995 by two dieticians - Tibole and Resch who wrote the book “Intuitive Eating” but the ideas were present in earlier work by Orbach (Fat is a Feminist Issue) and Geneen Roth who has written extensively about emotional eating. 

Intuitive Eating takes into account the HAES movement (Health at any Size) and recognizes no one can determine how healthy a person is just by looking at them - judging a person to be unhealthy based on a visual determination is wrong - HAES believes any size of person can be healthy and live healthy - individual biology is important. 

A variety of cultures employ food as a means of cultural exchange and comfort, IE recognizes traditional diets have failed to take into account cultural and socio-economic factors and an intersectional approach to the issue is crucial. 

Today, intuitive eating is a trusted method used by therapists and dietitians worldwide. It has been shown to improve body image, promote mental health, and reduce symptoms of disordered eating.

As therapists, we play a crucial role in promoting intuitive eating. Our understanding of the mind-body connection enables us to guide our clients towards a healthier relationship with food. By helping our clients to tune into their bodies' signals, we empower them to trust their instincts, reject diet culture, and embrace a more holistic approach to health. It’s important that we also encourage our clients to receive proper medical care from their physicians and nutritionists to ensure the topic is being approached from both a mental health and full body perspective. It’s also important to mention, people with certain diagnosis and co-occurring conditions, can face special additional challenges with eating.  For example, if you have ADHD, you have a whole host of other complex dynamics that can make it difficult to maintain healthy nutrition and habits.  If you are autistic or have other sensory needs and sensitivities, this can complicate simple nutrition ideas.  Some medical and developmental diagnoses may make intuitive eating a confusing solution for you. Please know with the help of a clinician who is educated in these areas, these principles will still work for you, but please discuss with a clinician, nutritionist or other coach who is fully educated on these issues to help you incorporate intuitive eating in the healthiest way for you, taking into account your individual biology, individual complex needs, as well as cultural considerations.

The journey of intuitive eating is ongoing, with new research and insights continually enhancing our understanding of this empowering approach.

Sources:

Jennings, Kerri-Ann. “A Quick Guide to Intuitive Eating.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 25 June 2019, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/quick-guide-intuitive-eating#:~:text=The%20term%20intuitive%20eating%20was,about%20emotional%20eating%20since%201982. 

Shohreh. “The Nuances of Intuitive Eating in Black Communities with Ayana Habtemariam: #20.” Shohreh Davoodi, 10 June 2021, https://shohrehdavoodi.com/intuitive-eating-black-communities/. 

Tribole, Evelyn, and Elyse Resch. Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works. St. Martin's Griffin, 2012. 

“10 Principles of Intuitive Eating.” Intuitive Eating, 19 Dec. 2019, https://www.intuitiveeating.org/10-principles-of-intuitive-eating/.