Someone asked me, “As a dietitian, what’s one piece of nutrition advice you wish everyone knew?”

It’s not the first time I’ve been asked that. In fact, I get it pretty often. People are fascinated by nutrition. It’s a hot topic in today’s wellness culture. The internet and social media are flooded with opinions about food and diets. Most people won’t hesitate to share their thoughts, as if they have a degree in nutrition.

Honestly… What does that even mean? It’s a term people may or may not have heard. But what I’ve found, especially online, is that most people don’t really know what it actually means. A lot of people seem to think intuitive eating is just about eating when you’re hungry and stopping when you’re full. And yes, that is part of it. I’d even say it’s a big part... but it’s so much more nuanced than that.

Binging is such a complex issue, triggered by many different factors. I’ve worked in the eating disorder field for over 10 years now, and I’d like to share the most common theme I’ve noticed while working with clients. I’ve also seen this same pattern in family members and friends who struggle with binging.

If you work in the eating disorder field or have been to eating disorder treatment, you’ve likely heard of the term set point theory. In short, set point theory suggests that our bodies have a natural weight range, called a set point. One’s set point is determined by many different factors, but it’s mainly impacted by genetics, hormones, metabolism, and brain chemistry. Your set point is essentially like an “equilibrium weight.” It’s the weight at which your body functions best, and your body works hard to stay at that weight because it likes to stay in equilibrium.