Core ideas of the body positivity movement date back to the late 1800s when the Victorian dress reform movement emerged. This movement aimed to put an end to the fad of corsets and tightlacing, to which women succumbed, conforming to the societal standard of a tiny waistline. The movement emphasized acceptance of all body types, regardless of waist measurements.
Since then, body positivity has transcended generations. Recently, the movement found a home on social media platforms, such as Instagram, where its modern agents challenge unrealistic beauty standards and unattainable body type expectations. As a result of the social media boom, the message of body positivity now thrives on a global scale. Unfortunately, as the movement grows, it has lost some of its substance: the overall promotion of physical health along with body acceptance.
Social media influencers often create a personal brand that makes their unwavering confidence about their bodies seem glamorous and fun. Body positivity should be celebrated in all shapes and forms. However, we have to remember how important a person's physical health is, as well. Many people have battled with their bodies. At least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from some sort of eating disorder, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Loving your body is important, but that also means taking care of it.
That being said, the body positivity movement in its modern form is not bad. Furthermore, this article is not meant to attack anyone. If a person is extremely thin, I understand that there are major health risks involved, and obesity should be thought of the same way. When a person is extremely overweight, it can be dangerous to his or her health.
Defining obesity is also important for this discussion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers anyone with a body mass index greater than 30 to be obese. To put this in perspective, a female who is 5 feet 4 inches tall, the average height for women in the U.S., would be considered obese if she weighed 174 pounds or more. A man who stands at the average U.S. male height, 5 feet 9 inches tall, would need to weigh 200 pounds or more to be classified as obese.
Obesity refers not to a body type, but to the serious, chronic disease that often results in dangerous effects on the systems in someone’s body. Among other complications, people who are obese are at serious risk of developing heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, bone and joint diseases and other health complications. Most important to note, though, is many people die due to complications related to obesity. On the other hand, if we look at other eating disorders related to being thin, like anorexia, health complications are serious and can be deadly.
It is also important to understand there are a number of factors contributing to obesity and other weight-related issues. Genetic factors can often contribute to obesity. You have a 25 percent increased chance of being obese if one or more of your parents are obese, according to Stanford Health Care.
The body positivity movement does a beautiful job of encouraging people to love their bodies. However, it should also promote a healthy lifestyle. The idea of body positivity is to celebrate the body you are in and to treat your body in a respectful way. As a society, we have been quick to judge those deemed “too thin,” and we educate people on the dangers of eating disorders and the life-threatening results they can garner. We should encourage people to educate themselves on healthy eating habits and exercise. We need to promote a culture of loving for our bodies in addition to encouraging people to nourish and nurture the bodies they were given to the best of their abilities.
Abigail Miller is a UF political science and journalism senior. Her column appears on Mondays.
