28/02/2013
Great work Amity. If anyone needs help with exercising, then the Sport and Exercise Medicine Clinic at Pioneer can help you. Come and see us for a chat.
Realign Your New Year’s Resolution
We may not be aware of it, but in today’s society, we are constantly being exposed to images of the ‘perfect’ body. Models, actors and actresses are splashed across magazine covers and television screens depicting what society thinks to be the ‘ideal’ look. What makes things even more confusing is that these images which we are subjected to, have often been airbrushed and digitally enhanced.
The truth, and what we sometimes forget, is that human beings come in all shapes and sizes. If we start to compare ourselves to this so called ‘perfect’ body, it can be harmful to how we view our body (body image) and our self esteem.
In an attempt to fit the ‘perfect’ body ideal, some people go on diets, strict exercise regimes or take other drastic measures such as laxatives or surgery to try and change their shape. And who could blame them? With so many negative images and messages about people who are overweight in the media, and society, it is no wonder that they feel the pressure to look a certain way.
What is of great concern, is that it is becoming more common for young girls and boys to have poor body image and attempt to change their shape via dieting. There is evidence to show that female adolescents who dieted were 5 to 18 times more likely to develop an eating disorder compared to those who did not diet.
So what can we do? Even though we cannot change what we see in the media, we can change our own thoughts and perceptions about weight. Rather than focusing on the end goal, which could be the numbers on the scale or the size of your clothes, it is more helpful to try and accept yourself for the way you are now. That is not to say that you may be above your most comfortable, healthy weight, but struggling against your body in order to achieve your healthy weight is not helpful, or healthy.
Try focusing on healthy behaviours that you can adopt to be the healthiest that you can be. This may be eating more fruit and vegetables, eating your food slowly and not feeling guilty afterwards or getting involved in physical activities that you enjoy. These changes may not make you thin, if you’re not naturally built that way, but they will make you healthier. And isn’t that what should matter most?
Natalie Scott
Accredited Practising Dietitian
