Disordered Eating, Food Landscapes, and Public Health

This chapter explores the complex and often contentious relationship between food landscapes, food policy, and disordered eating. The chapter also focuses on various epistemological and sociological discourses concerning the changing patterns of eating disorders (EDs). The evolving food landscape, marked by globalization and socioeconomic inequalities, has challenged traditional dietary practices and exacerbated health disparities. Modern technology has revolutionized the promotion of health behaviors with key public health initiatives targeting normative and disordered eating and disseminating “biopedagogic” messages which shape public understanding of fitness and health according to neoliberal public health principles. However, the effectiveness of these health messages remains inconsistent, particularly across different socioeconomic and cultural groups. Policies often hinge on the idea that individuals are solely responsible for their health, perpetuating stereotypes and inequalities. The politicization of food, influenced by the “post-truth” society and media dynamics, further complicates the landscape of dietary advice and health behaviors. The chapter finally delves into the ambiguous and complex role of digital technology in regulating our eating behaviors.