Episode 27: Health > Body Positivity

LISTEN: Apple Podcast | Spotify

Today’s topic is something I feel very strongly about, and I know it may ruffle some feathers, but I want to share my honest thoughts and feelings about it too. You’ve probably heard of the body positivity movement over the last few years, and it’s being pushed more and more now. While I think it came from a great place originally, it does NOT equal health, and this is something I want to chat about here in more detail.

You may remember that Adele, the famous English singer and songwriter, was basically being slammed for losing weight. When I was doing my own research into all of this, I was honestly alarmed that women (primarily from the overweight community) were angry that she decided to lose weight and get healthy, because apparently they couldn't relate to her anymore. She was open about trying to get her mental health in order, and that it's just difficult for me to fathom that we're now calling people out on social media for taking care of themselves, and getting healthier.

When I first learned about body positivity, I wasn't quite sure what to think. Then, I started seeing more information about body positivity equaling health, and that just struck me wrong. I'm all for people loving themselves and being confident in their own skin, but I don't like that automatically being overweight now is 'healthy'. 

In today’s episode, I’m talking about:

-What the body positivity movement actually is, and what it’s promoting

-Why we can’t ‘rethink’ and try to change what health and fitness are, for women OR men 

-3 important reasons why body positivity does not equal health. My problems with this are that #1-the movement is set in a way to go against social standards, but it still focuses on appearance. #2-we encouraged and praised unhealthy habits during a world-wide pandemic (a health epidemic honestly, but health wasn't at the front and center), and #3-saying that being overweight is healthy is very inaccurate, and a flat out life.

I'm all for self-love and confidence in your own skin, but body positivity and health just aren't the same thing.

If you know me at all, you know I’m all about self love, being confident, and feeling good in your skin-I’ve gone through this on my own journey, and I help my ladies with this when we work together. I also know that being extremely overweight or obese is not healthy, and is not something that should be praised. The fact that people are now being shamed for losing weight and getting healthy is pretty alarming to me. 

Yes, I believe that body positivity and promoting a positive body image can improve your mental health, BUT it shouldn’t be completely ignoring and discrediting health risks either. This episode came from a place of love, because I’m very passionate about you and your health. I want you to know that it’s 100% okay to love and appreciate yourself always, but it’s also okay to want to change and improve yourself for the better too!

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