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Set Point Weight (Poodle Science)


(Set Point Weight)


The body uses energy for many things. We need energy for brain power, moving around, sitting, standing, emotions, etc. When we are not getting enough food, aka "restriction," our body slows down. The body will go into survival mode and only use energy for what is absolutely necessary. Due to this, the metabolism ultimately slows down. From here, the body has to heal from this period of time when it hasn’t been fueled properly. Restriction does not look the same for everyone. Just having those mental labels about "good" and "bad" foods and neglecting groups of foods can still exhaust your body and brain. Mental restriction and physical restriction both take a toll on your body. The body needs way more energy than expected. If someone's labs are ok that does not mean someone has found their set point weight. 

Set-point theory is brought into play during recovery, but this is something that needs to be talked about more. Your "set point weight" is when your mind and body are functioning properly. If you are at an "ideal weight" or above it and had to restrict yourself to get there or maintain that weight, then you are not at a healthy weight for your own body. The moment your body is at its set point weight, you are not engaging in any eating disorders and can experience real food freedom. You are listening to your hunger cues, practicing intuitive eating, and not restricting in any way. If you are compensating for your food in any way (excessive exercise, purging, etc.), constantly thinking and obsessing about food, or restricting your food intake, your body still has not been able to find its set point weight. This has been hard for me to handle in recovery because even if I look "normal" or as if I "don’t have an eating disorder," I still struggle to find my own set point weight. Your struggles are valid, no matter your weight. Disordered eating or eating disorders are mental illnesses, not weight disorders. Anyone at any weight can suffer from this illness, and that is something that needs to be recognized more in the media. You do not have to be underweight, hospitalized, or have gone through treatment to deserve recovery or validation that you are struggling.

One of my favorite foods that I have learned about in treatment is Poodle Science. I will watch this video for myself and send it to people to try and explain the idea of setting a point weight. The video is a metaphor that shows why so many people equate weight with health, the consequences of such assumptions, and why they are inaccurate. I highly suggest watching it. It talks about how "poodle science" is wrong. All of the poodles believe the other dogs are just fat or small poodles, when actually they are not poodles at all. They are terriers or mastiffs. The poodles believe the mastiffs should lose. But a starving mastiff will never become a poodle. A starved mastiff is just not a poodle.

No matter how much someone or something tells you to lose weight to fit the beauty standards of the world, remember you are not a poodle. Nobody is the same and has the same body. Poodles are great, but it is time we recognized there are so many different body types in the world, and they are all beautiful and do not need to change. When my friends or I are in treatment, we always remind each other that we are not all poodles, and we do not deserve to be starved mastiffs. We deserve love, happiness, and freedom around our food decisions.

Poodle Science
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