As summer is quickly approaching, everyone is trying to look their best for their (hopefully!) upcoming vacations. This sparks up the thought of a “bikini body” – what exactly is that considered? Is there a specific weight range, or body type?
While men also suffer from poor body image, it is no surprise women represent the majority of those who develop eating disorders. Seeing fashion models on magazine covers and celebrities in the media, women are constantly subjected to unrealistic beauty standards.
When I was younger, I was never skinny but at the same time I wasn’t overweight. Girls who were very thin would call me fat (which I really wasn’t), and from a young age I remember struggling with body image. Fast forward to high school up until about half a year ago, I fluctuated my weight between 20 pounds. Although I was never considered underweight, I still had my own struggles with eating habits and dieting. Many women struggle with their body weight, whether it is noticeable or not.
I am happy to say finally after many years I have found a healthy lifestyle – but this time it isn’t so much about how my body looks, but how much better I feel. At the end of the day that’s what is important, no body will ever be perfect. If you are thin you are told to get plastic surgery, and if you have curves you are told to lose weight. So the moral of the story is – keep your opinions to yourself – every body is perfect in its own way. Wear your bikini, or whatever you want, regardless of what other people think!