Unattainable beauty standards dominate our world, driven by glossy, flawless images across all types of media. The expansion of social media has moved these images from magazines and billboards to virtually everywhere, impacting not only the rich and famous. Even our friends and family are altering images and hiding behind filters, blurring the lines of what’s considered normal until our view of reality becomes skewed.
We scroll through social media and are bombarded with videos titled “Realistic What I Eat in a Day” depicting minuscule food portions, making us feel like our own eating habits are never good enough. It’s hard to cut through the noise of weight-loss courses and diet ads claiming that less food is the key to getting the body we're told we should have. The constant barrage of information, not all of which is accurate, is deafening.
At UFIT, we want to help block out some of that noise.
The problem with diet culture
The negative stigma attached to larger bodies reinforces the idea that such individuals are lazy, greedy, or inferior, while diet culture promotes thinness is best, suggesting that smaller bodies are healthier and happier. But health is more than just weight. Fad diets and diet culture oversimplify health, reducing it to the number on the scale, or the number in your jeans. This can drive people into cycles of restrictive eating, leading to lower body satisfaction.
On top of this, food fear is growing. As misinformation is spread online, we’ve become terrified of eating the “wrong” thing, or how we might be perceived because of our dietary choices. There has been a recent growth in influencers standing in supermarkets, yelling at you for eating… well, basically everything. Whilst it’s true that foods differ in nutritional value, eliminating all supposedly “unhealthy” foods is neither realistic nor sustainable and can have a detrimental effect on your mental health.
The Mental Toll of Unrealistic Body Standards
Research has linked higher body dissatisfaction to a poorer quality of life and psychological distress. People with body image concerns may find that they avoid social situations and physical activity, and are more likely to experience anxiety and depression.
It’s important to note that these effects are not just limited to any one gender, age group or body type. This is something that can affect everyone. 60% of adults have felt a negative emotion about their body image, 40% of teenagers said images on social media caused them to worry about their body image, and 1 in 3 adults have felt so stressed by a negative body image that they’ve felt overwhelmed or unable to cope*. (*Source Mental Health UK/Mental Health Foundation).
Those are worrying statistics, and online media is only growing, putting more and more people at risk each year and exposing them at younger ages.
So what can we do about it?
Embracing Body Positivity
While the media has taken steps to feature diverse body types, and social media personalities are speaking out against unrealistic body standards, diet culture is everywhere, and it’s important to reduce your consumption of this type of content.
Start by intentionally following accounts that promote body positivity rather than restriction. When you see a post on social media, assess how it makes you feel. Does it bring up a positive emotion? If not, perhaps consider unfollowing them, or limiting the amount you see their posts. Building a supportive community of like-minded people is a simple way to cultivate mental peace and self-acceptance. Following accounts that share positive affirmations can also be a great way to boost your mindset.
In addition to curating a positive online environment, consider engaging in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. These can have a profound impact on your mindset surrounding yourself. Taking up hobbies, being mindful, or escaping social media can really help you connect with yourself.
Be kind to yourself
With beauty standards always evolving, it is crucial to know that your worth is not tied to your appearance or the number on a scale. Instead of constantly trying to live up to society’s ever-changing expectations, focus on loving yourself for who you are—flaws, strengths, and everything.
Your body is not a trend. it’s your home.
