I hold multiple forms of privilege. These privileges, along with systemic structures, have made it easier for me to pursue my passions as a dancer and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, sharing my message, building my platform, and being heard.
But with that platform comes responsibility, especially in a field as appearance-focused as dance.
Unlearning What I Was Taught
An increasing awareness of our privileges helps us better understand the world around us and how others, not just our immediate circles, perceive it.
Admittingly, it took me years to fully comprehend what it meant to have thin privilege. Years of struggling with body dissatisfaction felt like anything but a privilege. In addition to this was years of education and clinical training— much of what was rooted in a weight-centric approach. A push towards the thin “ideal,” and the belief that thinness equates to better health.
But learning more about thin privilege taught me how vastly different my experiences are, as a thin-bodied person, especially in comparison to those who live with a body type not deemed culturally “acceptable.” Over time, I’ve unlearned those ideas and adopted a more inclusive, evidence-based framework.
What Does Privilege Have to Do With Body Size?
Just as diet culture categorizes food as “bad” or “good,” it does the same with body shapes and sizes. There’s an unfortunate hierarchy that elevates smaller bodies and demonizes larger bodies. But this narrative needs to be challenged.
Research shows:
- Body size alone is not a reliable indicator of health.
- Weight stigma and discrimination are independently associated with poorer health outcomes.
- Weight cycling, a result of repeated dieting, contributes to physical and psychological harm.
The Truth About Control and Choice
The notion that individuals have full control over their body weight and size shifts the blame from an (otherwise inevitable) failing diet to the dieter.
We’re constantly told that thinness is a choice— a personal responsibility achieved through “willpower” and “healthy habits.” This narrative drives a multi-billion-dollar industry (food products, supplements, fitness trends, and more) that profits from our insecurities.
Here’s a truth most are not ready to hear: body size is not really up to us. That’s because:
- 98% of diets fail.
- The few (2%) who maintain weight loss often engage in disordered behaviors.
- Dieting is not sustainable, and weight regain is common.
- Genetics and environment play a far greater role in body size than most people realize.
Choice or Privilege? The Importance of Access
To an extent, we have some control over body aesthetics. It is my choice to consume balanced and nutrient-dense foods throughout the day. I choose to eat mindfully, tuning into hunger and fullness cues. I also choose to move my body in ways that allow me to feel strong and energized. These choices are all within my immediate control… right?
Wrong.
Even health-supportive behaviors— like intuitive eating, mindful movement, and balanced meals— are often framed as personal choices. But these choices require access. Access is often a privilege.
I am privileged to:
- Live in a community with access to fresh, affordable food.
- Have time and energy to prepare meals and listen to my body’s cues.
- Afford— time and money— movement practices I enjoy.
- Work a flexible job that doesn’t penalize me for my body.
These are not universal experiences and far from reality for many. These privileges reflect environmental factors that allow me to live in a body scripted by my genetics. On top of that, I am privileged to have had the time and financial ability to navigate the 7+ year rack needed for attaining licensure as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist!
What Is Thin Privilege?
Fellow dietitian Christy Harrison defines thin privilege as the unearned advantage that comes from living in a body that is culturally accepted and often medically preferred.
People with thin privilege are more likely to:
- Have easier access to resources (like medical care).
- Be taken seriously by healthcare providers.
- Shop at stores without concern over what sizes are stocked.
- Fit comfortably in public seating.
- Eat in public without diet-related scrutiny.
- Move throughout life without feeling ostracized for their choices around food and movement.
Thin Privilege in the Dance World
In the dance world, thin privilege is magnified. The pressure to conform to a single aesthetic leads many dancers to disordered eating, injury, and burnout.
Two dancers can train with equal intensity and look completely different. Bodies are not machines, and trying to fit into one mold is both unrealistic and damaging.
Can You Hold Thin Privilege and Still Struggle With Body Image?
Absolutely. Struggling with body image— experiences like body dissatisfaction and/or body dysmorphia— does not negate thin privilege. It means you’ve internalized culturally-constructed standards— those that harm everyone, but systemically oppress larger bodies. These experiences are not mutually exclusive and can coexist.
Per activist Virgie Tovar, fear of fat exists on three levels:
- Intrapersonal – internalized body dissatisfaction, fear of weight gain.
- Interpersonal – how friends, peers, and others treat you.
- Institutional – structural discrimination in healthcare, education, and public spaces. For example, a person seeking treatment for anxiety leaves with a prescription to lose weight rather than a prescription for anti-anxiety medication or mental health support.
People in smaller bodies may experience the first two. Those in larger bodies often experience all three.
How Can You Use Your Awareness?
For many, hearing the anti-diet message from a thin-bodied individual can feel more frustrating than helpful. Acknowledging privilege isn’t about guilt— it’s about growth. If you have access, visibility, or influence, use it to make space for others and dismantle harmful norms.
Ways to take action:
- Amplify marginalized voices. Here’s a great start.
- Support size-inclusive dance wear and clothing brands.
- Diversify your social media feed.
- Speak up against weight-based shaming in studios.
- Challenge any implicit bias you might have around body size.
- Educate yourself and others on diet culture harms.
Key Takeaways: Supporting Every Dancer
In nearly 15 years of working with dancers of all body shapes and sizes, I’ve seen the transformation that happens when dancers move away from obsessive body control and toward a more nourishing, sustainable relationship with food and movement. For many, that shift leads to longer careers, fewer injuries, and greater joy in their art.
But here’s something important I want every dancer to hear:
Being anti-diet does not mean being anti-dieter.
It means rejecting the oppressive systems that tell dancers their worth is tied to a specific body type— not rejecting the individuals who feel drawn to those systems. If you have body or weight goals, you still deserve support. You still deserve compassion. You still deserve to feel seen.
That’s what The Healthy Dancer® is here for. If you’re struggling to feel at home in your body or unsure how to care for it without falling into extremes, I invite you to reach out. Nourish The Healthy Dancer® Cultivate Confidence was created to help dancers redefine personal ideals, build resilience, and find a more peaceful, powerful relationship with food and body.
