New Year’s Resolutions and Mental Health: A Dietitian’s Perspective on Balance Over Deprivation
- Ally Voget
- Dec 30, 2025
- 2 min read
Every January, we are bombarded with marketing around New Year’s resolutions. Messages promising a “New Year, New You” often centre on dieting, weight loss, and body transformation. But from a mental health and eating disorder dietitian’s perspective, it’s important to ask: are New Year’s resolutions supporting wellbeing — or contributing to harm?
At The Mental Health Dietitian, I often see how well-intentioned resolutions can negatively impact both mental health and relationships with food.
Impacts of Diet- and Weight-Related Resolutions
The most common New Year’s resolutions typically relate to:
Dieting or “eating healthier”
Exercising more
Losing weight or changing body shape
While these goals may sound positive on the surface, they are often rooted in restriction, control, and all-or-nothing thinking.
As an eating disorder and mental health dietitian, I see first-hand how weight- and diet-focused resolutions can worsen wellbeing.
For individuals with a history of eating disorders, these resolutions can trigger relapse or symptom escalation
For those without a diagnosed eating disorder, starting a restrictive diet in January can increase the risk of developing disordered eating patterns
Even without an eating disorder, rigid food rules can increase anxiety, preoccupation with food, and body dissatisfaction
These outcomes are not a personal failure — they reflect a system that prioritises appearance over health.
Why New Year’s Resolutions Still Matter to Many People
Despite their downsides, New Year’s resolutions serve an important emotional purpose. For many people, they represent:
A sense of hope or renewal
A psychological “reset” after a difficult year
Motivation to care for themselves differently
Because of this, abandoning resolutions entirely may feel unrealistic. Instead, a more sustainable approach is to reshape resolutions so they support mental health rather than undermine it.
Healthier Alternatives to Weight-Based New Year’s Resolutions
Rather than focusing on weight or deprivation, consider setting wellness goals grounded in nourishment, balance, and self-compassion.
Examples of mental health–supportive goals include:
Prioritising regular meals and adequate nourishment
Moving your body in enjoyable, non-punitive ways
Spending more time with friends, family, or community
Exploring new hobbies, interests, or creative outlets
Practising self-compassion when routines change
These goals allow for flexibility, which is essential for both mental health and long-term wellbeing.
Looking for Support?
If New Year’s resolutions bring up anxiety around food, weight, or body image, working with a mental health and eating disorder–informed dietitian can help you set goals that support — rather than harm — your wellbeing.
You may find the following blog posts helpful:
Book a free phone call appointment to find out how The Mental Health Dietitian can help you start your year the right way.
