Nina Kaufmann

A question people often ask: Can intuitive eating be used for weight loss? It’s a topic filled with misconceptions, partly because some professionals use intuitive eating terms like “no diet” or “no restrictions” as a guise for promoting dieting. I’ve literally seen people on social media promote “intuitive weight loss”—let me make it perfectly clear, this is not intuitive eating and has nothing to do with it.

You’ll often find that many who claim to embrace intuitive eating principles still suggest subtle restrictions aimed at weight loss. When a dietary change has the primary aim of weight loss, we’re talking about dieting, no matter how it’s labeled.

So, can intuitive eating genuinely be used for weight loss? Spoiler alert: No. Here’s why.

Understanding Intuitive Eating

To answer the question fully, let’s first clarify what intuitive eating is—and isn’t. Intuitive eating is a self-care practice and a non-diet approach to food. This concept was developed by brilliant dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch in the 1990s and has since gained lots of (growing!) scientific support as a valid method for improving health outcomes.

At its core, intuitive eating is about returning to the body’s natural cues for hunger and satiety, which we all naturally followed as children. It’s a way to heal your relationship with food, honor your body’s needs, and make choices that align with emotional, physical, and mental well-being.

With intuitive eating, you shift focus away from external rules about what, when, and how much to eat and you learn to trust your body’s inner wisdom. The purpose isn’t to achieve a specific weight but rather to reconnect with and care for your body in a way that feels supportive and sustainable for you. With intuitive eating, you get to create your own unique healthy lifestyle, that ebbs and flows gently with the seasons of your life.

Why Intuitive Eating Isn’t a Weight-Loss Tool

Intuitive eating promotes a weight-neutral approach to health, honoring the body’s natural set point—a “happy weight” where your body functions optimally. Set point theory suggests that each person’s body has a genetically influenced weight range where it functions optimally. When practicing intuitive eating, your body is more likely to settle at this natural set point, as the internal hunger and satiety cues guide eating behaviors without external restrictions.

For some, this weight may be lower than where they started; for others, it may be the same or even higher. The crucial aspect is that intuitive eating does not aim for weight control or manipulation.

The body, when given the care it needs, will naturally settle at the weight that’s right for it, free from the harmful fluctuations that chronic dieters experience.

Scientific research has shown that interventions focused on weight loss often lead to weight cycling—a pattern of losing and regaining weight—which can have negative effects on physical and mental health.

Your “happy weight” will likely fluctuate a bit due to natural factors, such as hormonal changes, the time of day, and more. Unlike the big weight fluctuations seen in dieting, these variations are minor and align with the body’s health.

The Weight of Societal Standards

It’s essential to understand that bodies naturally vary in size, shape, and color. Unfortunately, diet culture and toxic beauty standards often promote a narrow view of beauty, pushing the false idea that our self worth and health are tied to weight. Historically, beauty standards have changed over time, so trying to mold yourself to match these arbitrary ideals is a losing game.

True health cannot be defined by a number on a scale but rather by factors like mental, physical, and emotional well-being, which we can nurture with nourishing behaviours, not through manipulating our weight.

Imagine a world where health is about embracing our diverse bodies and caring for ourselves with love and respect. By freeing ourselves from the need to fit a societal standards, we can experience a fuller, healthier life.

Conclusion

Sure, some people may lose weight through intuitive eating, but it’s crucial to note that intuitive eating is never practiced with weight loss as the goal. Instead, it’s about nurturing your whole self—emotionally, physically, and spiritually—in the body you have right now. That body deserves respect, love, and care, regardless of the weight and what diet culture might suggest.

If you’re ready to reconnect with your body, heal your relationship with food, and nurture your health without restriction, consider joining my Intuitive Eating Coaching. Together, we’ll explore ways to support your well-being with an approach that honors your unique needs. Let’s take the journey to a happier, more fulfilling relationship with food and body today.

Why Intuitive Eating Coaching Will Change Your Life

Do any of these resonate?

• Do you find yourself constantly preoccupied with what you “should” or “shouldn’t” eat?
• Are you trapped in cycles of dieting, deprivation, and the inevitable rebound, leading to feelings of guilt and shame?
• Is food anxiety keeping you from fully enjoying life, impacting social situations and special occasions?
• Do you find yourself scrutinizing your body, believing happiness lies in losing weight?

It’s not your fault—diet culture has ingrained these harmful beliefs in all of us. My coaching is designed to break these harmful cycles and reconnect you to your body’s natural wisdom, so you can enjoy a balanced, fulfilling life free from food fear and restriction.

Imagine a Life Free from Dieting and Self-Criticism

Picture this:

• Feeling peaceful around all foods, even those you once considered “forbidden” or “bad.”
• Confidently nourishing your body without guilt or the pressure of external rules.
• Moving through your days connected to your body, trusting it to tell you what it needs and feeling liberated from the control of diet culture.

This is the reality that intuitive eating coaching can help you create. When you work with me, you won’t just learn the basics of intuitive eating—you’ll gain tools to reclaim autonomy over your body and transform your relationship with food, health, and self-worth forever.

Here’s What You Can Expect from Our Coaching Journey Together

Through personalized, supportive sessions, you’ll experience meaningful change rooted in respect for your unique story and goals:

1. Freedom from Diet Culture: Release restrictive rules and embrace a nourishing, weight-neutral approach to health.
2. Building Self-Trust: Reframe beliefs about food, health, and self-worth, developing a gentle, compassionate inner voice.
3. Living in Balance: Create sustainable habits with joyful movement, flexible nutrition, and self-compassion.
4. Seasonal Living: Honor the natural rhythms of your body and life, from intuitive eating to mindful self-care.

Take the First Step Towards Food Freedom

Your journey towards food freedom, self-acceptance, and holistic well-being is within reach. If you’re ready to break free from diet culture, to honor your body with respect and love, and to live a life grounded in true health—not restrictive dieting—I would be honored to guide you.

Join me for a free discovery call, and let’s start creating the life you’ve imagined: one filled with balance, joy, and the peace of a truly healthy relationship with food and body.

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