Daisy Pritzker ’25 is researching the impact of diet culture on American society for her Senior Independent Study.

In the past, Pritzker  has worked with the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), a nonprofit organization that provides peer support services to people struggling with an eating disorder. She also founded One Bite at a Time, an organization that raises money for ANAD by selling cookies at  multiple farmers’ markets throughout Los Angeles.

Pritzker was diagnosed with anorexia in the past and saw a friend hospitalized with an eating disorder. She said she chose to research eating disorders because of the subject’s relevance to people in her community.

“I honestly do not know a lot of people who have not had some sort of struggle about body satisfaction or disordered eating,” Pritzker said. “It is such a prevalent issue that it is what I’m planning to study.”

Pritzker said her paper examines aspects of diet culture that are often neglected.

“There are so many important topics in my paper that are not common knowledge but have a big effect on mental health,” Pritzker said. “Fatphobia, the fact that dieting does not work and the racist and sexist origins of diet culture are very overlooked.”

Under the guidance of Upper School Counselor Dr. Tina McGraw, Pritzker is compiling her research into a 50-page research paper. At the end of the semester, Pritzker said she aims to publish her findings.

Pritzker said she appreciates her independent study because she is passionate about addressing the issues within diet culture.

“It feels so much more rewarding than my classes,” Pritzker said. “This is the first research paper I have ever written where I will spend hours reading studies and I actually enjoy it.”