Pretty Cool: Seeing Body Diversity Makes Us More Comfortable With Diverse Bodies

[redqueen]

http://jezebel.com/5954683/seeing-body-diversity-makes-us-more-comfortable-with-everyone-and-thats-a-good-thing

You know how all day, every day we're inundated with images of women with similar body types (thin) and told,"THIS IS PERFECT BE THIS SIZE OR DIE OF A FAT FAT ATTACK." Or, you know, just be thin so clothes will fit right, other people will find you suitable for fucking, and you won't die alone, your rotting carcass eventually discovered under a pile of pizza boxes, diet pills, and Lipitor? The same reason many women spend thousands of dollars to lose those "last ten pounds," might just be because the only type of women we ever see in the media are thin, thinner, and thinnest (but not too thin! because then she's probably anorexic and then,"eewww!&quot In conclusion, it makes everyone miserable and nobody wins.

Well, a new study published in PLoS ONE, demonstrates that when women are shown pictures of other women with a range of body sizes, the study participants quickly start to get more comfortable with the varying sizes. Of course, the implication is, that if we we're shown a more diverse arrays of body sizes on TV, movies, billboards, advertising, etc., we'd probably just be a lot more okay with the fact that bodies come in all shapes and sizes,maybe even seeing Tyra in a fat suit (made of a ten thousand jelly beans stuffed into a full-body sweat suit made for a T. Rex) would be less alarming.

...

Shocking, I know.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

1. Being overweight is unhealthy

and is a choice.

There is nothing positive about being overweight for either gender. It is a quality of life and public health issue.

[tblue]

2. It's not always a 'choice'

I have always had a fast metabolism and that wasn't a choice either. You can't generalize about something like that and it makes you sound unkind, though you're probably not.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

7. I am interested in health consciousness and people's quality of life.

When I turned 50 years old I decided to learn to snowboard but my first attempt showed me that I was too overweight and in bad condition to actually pull it off. I motivated me over the next year to lose 35 pounds and get in functional physical condition. I was able to learn and master snowboarding because of it but the real revelation was the incredible positive impact being at a healthy weight and in functional condition had on every aspect of my life. It is still a struggle to maintain a healthy weight but I am motivated to do it by my love of snowboarding and mountain biking and the other fantastic outdoor recreation options my beloved Colorado affords. Consequently, the past 8 years of my life have been the happiest, most professionally successful and most spiritually progressive years ever.

I understand the unrealistic images of unhealthy thinness that the fashion world projects but I am concerned by the overcompensation against that that seeks to re-image overweight as normal. Being healthy is far superior to surrendering to the unhealthy American diet and claiming that there is no real alternative to being overweight.

Those with metabolic issues that make maintaining a health weight an issue are a small percentage of overweight Americans. The real solution to unrealistic body images in the media is not to go to the other extreme but to see a healthy active lifestyle as the real goal with a sustainable healthy weight.

[redqueen]

3. Person A: 'Oh I can eat and eat and I never work out, but I still never gain weight.'

Person B: 'Oh lucky you! You were blessed with a high metabolism. Wish I had that problem!'


Person C: 'I barely eat enough to survive and I try to work out but I have no energy, I just can't lose weight.'

Person D: 'LIAR! MATH! CALORIES VS ENERGY USED! IT'S SO SIMPLE! YOU'RE DRIVING UP INSURANCE COSTS AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!11@1111'!


The really sad thing is that Person A in this scenario is most likely to be in much worse health than person C, because they often (if they listen to lookists) eat less healthy foods in an effort not to look so thin.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

8. Person A is blessed but can easily fail to maintain healthy condition

Person C is not doing nutrition right. They need to be eating more nutritionally dense, less caloric foods.

Person D is oversimplifying.

I have been a vegetarian for 37 years but still was overweight because I was eating too much animal fat through cheese and thought that sugar was a vegetable (and I was not on a regular conditioning schedule). Now, as a vegan, I have to be very aware of eating the right combinations of foods and the correct portion sizes of foods, AND work out. I have a very demanding job that requires a lot of travel so all of this is difficult to pull off, but my quality of life is markedly superior to those high school Facebook friends I am still connected with so I feel that I am on the right track.

[redqueen]

9. That's good. I'm happy for you.

But this thread isn't about you or your personal views on nutrition.

The articles linked here are more about this.
http://www.missrepresentation.org/

This is in a women's group, not a nutritious group. Perhaps you might be more interested in starting another discussion about it elsewhere.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

10. Overweight is a health issue for women and men.

It would be a mistake for feminism to frame overweight as normal, as mistaken as the framing of overthinness as normal by the fashion media.

Since male input is not welcomed, I will refrain from posting in this group again.

I am, and have been for decades, a full supporter of all feminist positions, nonetheless.

[redqueen]

11. Regarding mistakes... I will just post this link.

http://www.alternet.org/story/154850/the_politics_of_fat%3A_we_have_to_keep_struggling_to_liberate_ourselves_from_self-hatred

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

12. I understand the problems of body dismorphia perfectly

but the issue is self hate and that should be what is dealt with. One who loves themselves healthily should also love themselves enough to want to take proper care of the meat wagon that their soul rides in and give that soul the best vehicle to obtain a superior quality of life throughout the physical sojourn.
I also had self hate issues that contributed to my overweight issues and dealing with my weight in a healthy manner was one of the contributors to my management of my Calvinist self loathing problem. All I am saying is that a balanced approach to body image issues is the way to solving both health and spirit aspects of the problem.

Sorry, said I would not post again in the feminist forum. No more after this.

[MadrasT]

13. This statement is untrue:

Since male input is not welcomed

Just sayin'.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

16. Expressing concern about a dangerous meme

is hardly bullying.

If you care to make a case for the positive health benefits of obesity, please proceed.

This is not about body dismorphia, it is about the most pervasive public health issue in America.

[seabeyond]

17. calling an over weight person derogatory name is not concern. i have read at least four separate

posts of yours where being ugly was your only intent toward the overweight person you were referring to.

nowhere did i discuss the health of an over weight person, one way or another. failed argument to suggest i did.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

18. Your defense of the honor of monica lewinski and chris christy is duly noted.

Enjoy your lifestyle.

[seabeyond]

19. no. it is calling out bullying behavior. nt

[JTFrog]

4. There was a similar article yesterday on msn.

http://living.msn.com/style-beauty/simply-chic-blog-post/?post=20e4135e-7e4f-4f27-9c3a-4bf00cbf326c

Seeing is believing: Plus-size models may boost body image
A new study shows that society’s seeming preference for super-skinny models may only be in the eyes of their beholders.

Preliminary research from Durham University in the UK reveals (yet again!) that what women see in the media shapes their views about their own shape. It seems logical, but it’s a message that’s only recently filtering in to top fashion magazines and couture catwalks – namely that if plus-size models are used in advertising and glam fashion shoots, women will find those body types beautiful and aspirational. And this may also have the side effect of boosting the self-esteem of average and plus-size women.

In the study, the more images of thin models the participants saw, the more they preferred that body type. Yet when they were shown pictures of plus-size models, their preference shifted to that figure. What this reveals is that women have a much more diverse view of female beauty than our media portrays, and what we’re exposed to absolutely affects our definition of an “ideal body.” Follow-up studies with more women (and men!) are forthcoming.

[redqueen]

6. Thanks!

Good to see this study is getting attention. Anything that helps correct the 'Miss Representation' of women is good news to me.

[wildflower]

5. I love all the article comments too

Very inspiring.

[ismnotwasm]

15. Diverse is right

And regarding health issues, that too is not one size fits all. There's a younger woman at work who decided that she and I are about the same size, and follow the same pattern of weight gain or loss. (Which I don't quite get, I never 'diet') I told her 'I'm 52 years old and I don't have to give a motherfucking shit' I've had the cat calls, the harassment, the male attention, all the bullshit I can stand. A few extra pounds is asshole repellent as far as I'm concerned (a term I leaned here at DU and use quite often) she liked that idea.
My body moves me through the world, allows me to experience physical, emotional and spiritual sensations of all kinds. I respect what it does for me.

Being a nurse, I've seen the people who've felt betrayed by their bodies, healthy, active people who all of a sudden where no longer healthy. I'm grateful to my body, knowing that caring for it is the right thing to feel, to do, in the best way I can.


For me, alas, the blood pressure went up, and now the weight must needs come off. It's fairly easy for me though and I rest easy knowing I do it for the right reason

[misschicken]

20. Body acceptance win!

An obvious example, but I am glad that this article is out there.