Diet Culture in Puerto Rico and Its Impact on Health

Written by: Rocío Rivera-Ortega, MS, RD, LND & Tatiana Velez, MS, RD, LND, CPT

Co-author: Joymar Torres

A yellow plate with green peas, a silver for, and a measuring tape on top.

In Puerto Rican culture and other Latin American countries, the relationship between diet and body image is very close and is often a recurring topic in family and social conversations from an early age.

This focus on physical appearance can create constant pressure and lead to disordered eating patterns in the pursuit of the “perfect” body.

Below, we outline key points about diet culture, disordered eating, and how they can affect health.

What is diet culture?

Diet culture refers to a set of beliefs and ideas that promote thinness as the “ideal” and “healthy” body. This culture emphasizes weight loss as the main goal for improving body image, which leads individuals to make changes in their eating habits. It can also lead to people being judged based on their food choices, labeling them as “good” or “bad.”

For example, in Puerto Rico, cultural expectations of the “ideal” body are often reflected as follows: for women, a slim but curvy body is idealized, while for men, a muscular and toned physique is valued.

When society sets expectations about what is considered “healthy,” people may feel dissatisfied with their bodies and resort to extreme, unhealthy, and unrealistic methods to meet these standards. This often manifests through fad diets, which focus on restricting or eliminating certain foods, including essential nutrients, while promoting excessive intake of others considered “weight-loss friendly.”

Examples of fad diets

Keto diet

A dietary plan that significantly increases fat and protein intake while drastically restricting carbohydrates.

Detox diet

A restrictive eating pattern focused mainly on consuming fruits and vegetables, often in the form of juices and smoothies.

Intermittent fasting

An eating pattern that alternates periods of fasting and eating, restricting food intake during fasting windows and resuming normal eating during feeding periods. Variations can range from 16 to 36 hours without food.

Paleo diet

A diet that mimics the “ancestral” Stone Age diet, focusing on protein- and fiber-rich foods such as meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables, while avoiding processed foods, dairy, grains, and legumes.

Concerns and consequences of fad diets

Focus on restricting or eliminating food groups while emphasizing others
Rapid weight loss, which may lead to loss of muscle mass
Lack of individualization based on personal needs
Weight regain (yo-yo effect) after stopping the diet
Nutrient deficiencies
Ineffectiveness varies from person to person
Potential negative effects on health
Not sustainable long-term
Increased stress and anxiety
Increased appetite, which may lead to abandoning the diet

Diet culture has a significant impact on how individuals perceive themselves, especially women, who often feel pressured to meet societal beauty standards.

In response, many people adopt extreme and restrictive diets, such as the fad diets mentioned above, in an effort to achieve their desired body image. However, these unrealistic expectations can be harmful and may lead to disordered eating.

What is disordered eating?

Diet culture is one of the main contributors to disordered eating. Disordered eating patterns are irregular, unbalanced, and unhealthy behaviors that may include:

Overeating or undereating
Restricting certain foods
Fasting or skipping meals
Compulsive eating
Extreme dieting

These behaviors are often adopted to control body weight and may also be influenced by emotional factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression.

Risks of disordered eating

Disordered eating can have serious physical and emotional health consequences. When these patterns become persistent and more severe, they may eventually develop into eating disorders.

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders (EDs) are complex mental health conditions that affect thoughts and behaviors related to food and body weight. Unlike disordered eating, an eating disorder is a medically diagnosed condition characterized by an intense preoccupation with food and body image along with psychological disturbances.

Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.

Eating disorders can lead to severe health consequences such as malnutrition, nutrient imbalances, and the development of other medical conditions. Treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach to support full recovery.

In conclusion

Many people believe that having a low body weight and following a restrictive diet is equivalent to being healthy, when in reality it is not. True health goes beyond weight—it includes promoting healthy lifestyle habits and achieving complete physical, social, and mental well-being.

Each individual requires personalized nutrition based on their needs, lifestyle, goals, medical conditions (if any), food preferences, and physical activity level.

If you are experiencing difficulties with eating or considering a restrictive diet, we recommend consulting Fuel Labs nutritionists, who are trained and ready to provide personalized guidance and support on your journey toward a healthier relationship with food.

ReferenCES

Cohen, L. M. (2021). Eating disorders. In Z. E. Imel & B. D. Atkins (Eds.), The Wiley encyclopedia of health psychology (pp. 117-118). John Wiley & Sons.

Tahreem, A., Rakha, A., Rabail, R., Nazir, A., Socol, C. T., Maerescu, C. M., & Aadil, R. M. (2022). Fad diets: Facts and fiction. Frontiers in nutrition, 9, 960922. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.960922