Beyond Diet Culture
A Conversation with Leslie Jordan Garcia on Race, Bodies, and Liberation
In Episode 4, Season 5 of the Fat Doctor Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Leslie Jordan Garcia, wellness practitioner and anti-diet educator. We delved deep into the intersections of race, body politics, and the diet industry, and what emerged was a powerful discussion that went far beyond the usual conversations about food and bodies, reaching into the very systems that shape our relationship with ourselves and our communities.
Unpacking Eating Disorders Through a Racial Lens
Leslie shared her personal journey with binge eating disorder, highlighting how eating disorders have historically been viewed as afflictions of “white, affluent girls and women.” This narrow perspective has led to the systematic exclusion of Black people and other people of colour from eating disorder treatment and recovery spaces. Even today, there remains significant stigma around binge eating disorder, with many still misunderstanding it as simply “eating too much” rather than recognizing its complex nature and its roots in restriction.
“Even still now, there’s that stigma with binge eating… like, ‘Yeah, no, you just need to stop eating, right?'” Leslie explained, emphasizing how this oversimplification particularly impacts communities of colour.
Body Hierarchies and White Supremacy Culture
One of the most compelling aspects of our conversation was Leslie’s articulation of how body hierarchies are inextricably linked to white supremacy culture. She spoke about her early experiences of feeling “too much” as a Black woman in white spaces, and how this intersected with broader societal pressures around body size and appearance.
The discussion illuminated how racial stereotypes—from the “angry Black woman” to the “mammy figure”—continue to influence everything from healthcare approaches to everyday interactions. These stereotypes don’t exist in isolation but are part of a broader system that determines who receives care, how they receive it, and how their bodies are perceived and treated.

The Evolution of Diet Culture
In an era where “diet” is becoming a bit of a dirty word, we explored how the industry has simply rebranded itself. “Lifestyle changes,” “clean eating,” and concerns about “ultra-processed foods” have become the new language of diet culture. Leslie pointed out how these concepts often target and stigmatize foods associated with various cultural traditions, particularly affecting communities of color.
“It’s all marketing,” Leslie emphasized. “They are preying upon your insecurities, they are cheerfully taking your insecurities to the bank.”
Food Systems, Capitalism, and Racism
Our conversation revealed how impossible it is to separate conversations about food from larger systems of capitalism and racism. Leslie highlighted how these systems work together to create and maintain inequities in food access and distribution. She pointed out that in the United States alone, enough food is wasted to feed everyone abundantly—the issue isn’t scarcity but distribution and profit.
“We throw away enough food in the US to feed everybody for free,” Leslie noted. “I don’t mean just like here’s your little wartime bread line rations. I mean, you could eat steak, shrimp, whatever you want… for free.”
Redefining Movement and Joy
When our conversation turned to exercise, Leslie immediately reframed it as “movement,” emphasizing how this shift in language opens up possibilities for everyone to participate in ways that feel good for them. Her perspective that “stillness is part of my movement practice” offers a revolutionary way to think about our relationship with our bodies and their capabilities.

A Path Toward Liberation
Leslie’s approach to wellness work, which she describes as being a “thought and value partner,” focuses on helping individuals find their own path to liberation while recognizing and challenging oppressive systems. This approach acknowledges that liberation looks different for each person while maintaining a clear focus on dismantling the larger systems that contribute to body oppression.
“We’re going to kick diet culture and racism in the nuts… but other than that, you know, we work on what you really want your life to be like,” Leslie explained, capturing both the seriousness of the work and the joy she brings to it.
Moving Forward
This conversation serves as a powerful reminder that discussions about bodies, food, and health cannot be separated from larger conversations about systemic oppression. Leslie’s work shows us that true wellness must include an understanding of these systems while helping individuals find their own path to healing and liberation.
The path forward requires us to look beyond quick fixes and diet culture rebranding to address the root causes of our complicated relationships with food and our bodies. It demands that we consider how racism, capitalism, and other systems of oppression influence our understanding of health and wellness. Most importantly, it calls us to imagine and work toward a world where everyone has access to true well-being, free from the constraints of body hierarchies and systemic oppression.
This blog post is based on a conversation between Dr. Asher Larmie and Leslie Jordan Garcia (MPH, MBA, CERDS), wellness practitioner and anti-diet educator. Leslie works with clients both locally in Austin, Texas, and worldwide through virtual sessions, offering movement coaching and partnership in liberation work. You can listen to the podcast or watch the video on YouTube.