{"id":795,"date":"2020-03-09T08:58:35","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T15:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/?p=795"},"modified":"2020-03-09T09:50:13","modified_gmt":"2020-03-09T16:50:13","slug":"all-bods-are-spring-break-bods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/all-bods-are-spring-break-bods\/","title":{"rendered":"All Bods Are Spring Break Bods"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Spring break is just around the corner and the misery of midterms are coming to an end! Everyone is looking forward to being out and about, poolside, and in their favorite bathing suit…or are we? For some, #bathingsuitseasonsucks<\/span><\/p>\n

The cosmetics and diet industries are constantly brainwashing us all to believe that there\u2019s only\u00a0 one acceptable body type. Our culture takes the message and runs with it – impacting social media, our friend groups, basically everywhere you look is tattooed with messages about food, weight, and health. Make it stop!<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a need or expectation to look and dress a certain way in order to be accepted or respected. It can put a real damper on spring break and summer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Weight stigma is defined as \u201csocial rejection and devaluation that accrues to those who do not comply with prevailing social norms of adequate body weight and shape.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Weight stigma, or weight bias, needs to go.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s literally hurting us. And it\u2019s so not cool.<\/span><\/p>\n

Promoting weight bias, which often leads to weight-based discrimination can be detrimental to health in many ways. First and foremost, being on the receiving end is stressful. This stress is linked to poor physical and mental health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Imagine being in a larger body and being told \u201cyou really shouldn\u2019t eat that.\u201d Hurt feelings are an understatement. Bring on the depression, low self-esteem, poor body image, and social isolation, just to name a few.<\/span><\/p>\n

Researchers have actually studied what happens to a person on the receiving end of weight stigma and they found that eating behavior increases.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s right – when people think they are being \u201chelpful\u201d it\u2019s completely backfiring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, losing weight does not equal being healthy. It contributes to stress, is linked to disordered eating behaviors, and avoidance of physical activity leading to weight gain, greater stigma, and consequences towards psychological and physical health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of trying to change our bodies, we need to change society.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of trying to manipulate our bodies into societal standards, we need to get the word out that societal standards are all jacked up. And that we\u2019re all MEANT to be different sizes and shapes. Not to mention the fact that the shame and blame methods surrounding body weight (hello doctor\u2019s office! I\u2019m talking to you!) are not working and telling people they need to lose weight is causing more harm than good.<\/span><\/p>\n

How about we all just do our best to eat balanced meals and snacks, if we have the resources to do so, and discover joyful ways to move our body, if we\u2019re able to. And leave it at that. <\/span><\/p>\n

Let our bodies be how our bodies are gonna be, based on our genetics. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the meantime, let\u2019s celebrate our diverse body shapes and sizes as no accident, but another piece of the diversity\u00a0 puzzle that makes us unique and amazing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"We\u2019ll fight the diet industry every day until we die. And until we win, here are some tips for putting on armor to the weight stigma that plagues society. Let\u2019s get ready for a fun and rejuvenating spring break as we say \u201cget outta here, #dietculture!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n