- Nethra
Intern, Feb - March 2023
Keto diets, juice cleanses, special teas, "get thin in 7 days", "get bulked in one week", these are all the fads that have been dominating our minds and our bodies since the onset of this haze of the “ideal body type” on social media.
The ideal body type is perpetuated and fed to everyone not only on social media but on all platforms of media like advertising, movies, magazines, etc. wherein unrealistic standards of beauty and body are portrayed wherein the woman is a slender and thin individual with perfect skin and perfect hair and the man is a bulked up, muscled individual who looks like they practically live at the gym. These ideals put people in a position to adhere to them under any circumstance whatsoever, often hurting their psychological, physiological, and physical health in the process. Individuals develop body dysmorphia owing to these notions that create a distorted image of their body in their head that they perceive their body image to be flawed and needing fixing.
The most common consequence as observed through the effects of media and the notion of an ideal body type is the onset of eating disorders in individuals (many just being adolescents - who consume and devour media like their lifeline and guide to life), in the process not releasing the falsified and commercialized nature of those targeted trends.
Research studies show that young people especially girls report dissatisfaction with their bodies overall or some features of their bodies. In one study, 44% of adolescent girls believed they were overweight and 60% were actively trying to lose weight even though the majority of these young girls were within normal weight ranges. This is mainly because, in the media, celebrities and models present a particular body type that seems to be universally present and thus understood as a norm by impressionable adolescents. Another prospective study found that both boys and girls (aged 9 to 14 years old) who were making an effort to look like the figures in the media, were more likely than their peers to develop weight concerns and become constant dieters.
Various eating disorders may be developed by individuals as a result of these expectations they think they have to live up to. These include:- Anorexia Nervosa (wherein an individual starves themselves owing to the distorted image of their bodies), Bulimia Nervosa (this occurs when the individual binge eats first to cope with their anxieties and later forcibly purges themselves to get rid of all that they ate as a result of their consequent guilt), another type is Binge Eating (wherein an individual eats large amounts of food in a short amount of time). Nearly 30-50% of individuals with Anorexia Nervosa and half of those with Bulimia and Binge Eating disorders also experience a mood disorder (i.e. depression, bipolar disorder, etc.) and thus must be acknowledged and accepted for the serious mental illness that it is.
These omnipresent pre and post photographs that you might see all over social media do not capture the process of those realities and what actually goes into those ‘post’ pictures. Not only the media, but this ever-present obsession with body image and commenting on it runs deep in the Indian diaspora. Ever come across some relative who goes “Oh, looks like you’ve put on some weight huh”, or “You look so thin like a twig, eat something or you’ll fly away with the wind”, or “You lost some weight ? You look great”. All these comments and notions targeted at your body may trigger an individual to fall prey to these insecurities and make them feel less than at moments. These remarks that may seem so commonplace and harmless play a large role in these adolescents’ and children’s perspectives of their bodies. We as a society must become more mindful of what we say and think about other people's bodies, their weights, and their body types.
Jameela Jamil, an actress, and activist, aptly put it in a post for eating disorder awareness week the various ways to destigmatize these eating disorders. She points out how, we shouldn’t believe these eating disorders are a choice,
this notion of an ideal body type is also a mechanism perpetuated by diet industries and companies looking to profit out of those by preying on the insecurities of individuals with these notions rooted in patriarchy. Moreover, it is imperative we de-root the idea of what we “should and shouldn’t” look like. The idea that there are “good and bad” foods is also a mentality fed to us and we must change our language when it comes to food (yes, there are some junk foods that may be bad for our health, but at times denying our body of those cravings is like denying small joys).
Even though significant attempts are being made to normalize all bodies, and accept that everyone has different body types which are all worthy and beautiful, weeding out these ideas and notions from the roots is extremely important to help in this struggle against portraying an ideal for people to live up to ( that too a subjective one, based merely on popular trends of that time). The real, unfiltered, YOU is worthy, beautiful, and unique. Comparing yourself to others is neither fair to you nor the other person because your uniqueness is what makes you, YOU. Accept your body, your scars, your curves, your acne, your breakouts, and your skin, accept you for YOU
Today's media can make us feel unsure about our bodies. It's tough, but there's help. Talking to a therapist can make a big difference. They can help you see your worth and deal with pressure from the media or others. If you're feeling down about your body, consider therapy today.
Absolutely! Social media has led to too much negative body image. Much needed message.
It is so important to create awareness on this topic. Not everything on social media is real!
it's so important to challenge and restructure these unhealthy and unrealistic body goals set in the mainstream media. thank you for putting this here and doing your part!