3.5 stars
Books about diet culture can be triggering. Either they get confusing with too much science background or else they get bogged down in telling you what to eat and when. I found this book accessible, but maybe almost too basic. Fictional women were used chapter by chapter as an archetype for experiences, which only works if you identify with those situations. I think the concept of challenging the ideas behind diet culture is important and this should hit teenagers at the right level to serve as a resource to think about things differently. Otherwise, I’m not sure this book brought anything new to the table.

Format Review 🎧
I’m developing a deep love of audiobooks narrated by the author and this is no exception! Dr. Tovar has such a gentle and warm speaking style that made me feel supported and encouraged me to slow down.

Content Review 📖
I’m not on social media and don’t watch TV which, I thought, had protected me from a lot of diet culture’s influence. As I was listening to this book though, it became apparent that childhood and social experiences have wormed their way into my psyche unconsciously and insidiously. I could see myself and humans I love reflected in the stories and experiences shared in the book.

I learned a lot of interesting things, backed by science, while working through this audiobook: the body’s starvation response, tapping into hunger/fullness cues, setting boundaries with people while on a fitness journey, the dangers of mindless and emotional eating, and the harm we do ourselves by labelling food as good or bad when food is neutral. I also appreciated Dr. Tovar’s gentle approach normalizing setbacks and relapse and what we can do when we experience same.

While this book is repetitive in parts, it feels intentional as we work through unspooling harmful inner dialogues and ingrained destructive thought patterns. The language was accessible and plain without being patronizing.

I didn’t like the foreward: it’s hard to take a “mindset expert” seriously when he’d literally never considered applying his own methodology about business to eating challenges. 🙃

I’m so glad I listened to this short, but powerful audiobook, and highly recommend it. I think there’s something here for everyone and have already recommended it!

I’m deeply appreciative of ANEW for making this audiobook available on NetGalley. ✨

I’m always hesitant with self-help books. I often find them patronising or just a re-hashing of existing ideas.
That said, the idea of this one really intrigued me so I gave it a go.

It’s really well written and uses medical research and practical techniques to -as the title suggest- reprogram your mind when it comes to diet culture. It’s definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who finds themselves on an endless diet.

Will the advice make a difference? Only time will tell, but I can say that I finished the book with a very positive and determined attitude to employ some of the strategies.

This is a positive and body affirming book. The author (who also narrates her own work), is well qualified to advise on this area, being as she is, a psychologist and dietitian (among many other impressive qualifications!). This well narrated book is the antidote to the despondency that comes with diet culture, and instead amongst the chapters lie more holistic and long term solutions to our heal our poor relationship to food that has suffered from years of immersion in diet culture. Expect mindfulness, compassion and many other beautiful solutions!

I love the warmth and authenticity embedded in the narration of this book - I am 100% sold and absolutely recommend this book to anyone else who needs their relationship with food and body image healed!!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

A good, practical guide to healing your relationship with food and your body. Tovar does a really good job of moving through this information with positivity and compassion. The narrator has an extremely soothing voice that allows you to tackle some tough subjects (like disordered eating) without feeling triggered.

I listened to the audio version of Deprogram Diet Culture and found it to be scientific in it's message and also it's terminology and the case studies seemed somewhat extreme and therefore unrelateable (to me) It was however just a short read/listen and packed a powerful message delivered by an actual qualified professional as opposed to a lot of the self proclaimed 'experts' we come across so often these days in the media,
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my early copy in return for my honest opinion.

I think books like Deprogram Diet Culture are important reads for everyone. We could all learn a lot of slowing down and being more mindful with our consumption of all things.

I love the overall message. We tear ourselves apart to fit an image that is often unreasonable.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dr. Supatra Tovar, and ANEW for the opportunity to read it. I have written this review voluntarily.

This is an encouraging, accessible overview of the CBT steps needed to unlearn diet culture and relearn more natural eating habits. I love that the author is both a clinical psychologist and a registered dietitian, lending huge credibility in an age of faux experts on social media. It’s also fantastically short- 4 hours on audio, less than 200 pages in hardback- without excessive stories or flowery language. To boil this book down any further would be a PowerPoint presentation, and I appreciate that in nonfiction. 4.5⭐️!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.