We’ve all been guilty of it: catching ourselves in the mirror, turning which-and-every-way pointing out our “imperfections.” It’s something that even I have started to become more and more conscious of as time passes. Body image and self-esteem issues have been an ongoing struggle for many young individuals in today’s fast-paced world. Society has instilled in our heads that if you can’t fit into a size 4, at the largest, you’re “fat.” We are constantly reminded of this every day, whether it is through the television or in a magazine. The root of this problem is due to the promotion of the Pro-ana and Thinspiration lifestyle.
Pro-ana, other wise known as pro-anorexia, is a “lifestyle” supported by those who believe that anorexia is a choice, not a disease. Pro-ana’s use thinspiration–a collection of images, words, mantras, and associations–to inspire or motivate them to be skinny. Thinspiration is becoming more and more prominent due to the Internet and the expansion of social media. If you were to Google “thinspiration,” it would direct you to countless blogs and forms full of pro-anorexics supporting other pro-anorexics through their daily lifestyle.
Fun fact: Most runway models meet the body mass index criteria for anorexia. Twenty years ago, the average model weighed 8 percent less than the average woman. Today, that number has risen to 23 percent. Even the plus-size industry has “shrunk,” with model sizes ranging from 6 to 14.
Listen, I am a size 6 and would never consider myself to be “plus-size.” Beauty is so much more than skin deep. It’s not based off of how much of your collarbone you can see. It is about confidence. And let me tell you, there’s nothing more beautiful than someone who is confident in their own body.
Visit www.centerforchange.com/ if you believe you are suffering from a body image disorder and would like help.
Sources:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/iu-iri081712.php