Topic: body image

Glamour Has A One-Month Slim-Down Plan…And We Actually Like It

Glamour Has A One-Month Slim-Down Plan...And We Actually Like It

Lady mags have a tendency to publish health and fitness content that’s ineffective at best; dangerous and misleading, at worst. And on both ends of the spectrum, they tend to advertise it with women who all meet the same height-weight qualifications (which, surprise surprise, are pretty far from the average American woman). But finally, Glamour magazine has a one-month slim-down plan that doesn’t give fitness a bad name: It’s a workout (with real weights), demonstrated by a trainer (with real muscles) that actually promotes healthy advice for readers (who really want to get in shape; not just cleanse their way to quick weight loss). More »

Skyfall Called Worst Smoking Movie In 2012; Why Not Call Out Damaging Beauty Standards And Junk Food, Too?

Skyfall Called Worst Smoking Movie In 2012; Why Not Call Out Damaging Beauty Standards And Junk Food, Too?

‘Tis the season for the press to call out movies that glorify smoking; a noble cause, given that studies prove smoking in movies promotes real-life smoking, especially in kids. But every time I see a new headline scolding (spoiler alert: you are about to learn which movie is officially the worst movie for smoking in 2012) Skyfall and James Bond, I can’t help but think: Why are we letting movie producers off the hook for all the other bad stuff–from junk food in movies to damaging beauty standards and objectification of women–when it’s arguably a much bigger threat to public health than smoking at this point? More »

‘The Biggest Loser’ & Their Childhood Obesity Press Tour Completely Ignore Body Acceptance

‘The Biggest Loser’ & Their Childhood Obesity Press Tour Completely Ignore Body Acceptance

Months ago, we learned that Jillian Michaels would be returning to The Biggest Loser to tackle a very important and delicate topic: childhood obesity. At the time, I questioned whether the show and the new mother of two would really help teens in a healthy way or just exacerbate other body image issues. Now, the press tour for the three teenagers participating in The Biggest Loser is starting, and it looks like our previous concerns were valid. In all of the talking points thrown around during the PR introductions, body acceptance is notably absent. More »

The Science Of A Six-Pack: Can Diet and Exercise Trump Genetics?

The Science Of A Six-Pack: Can Diet and Exercise Trump Genetics?

In October, we published “Starving For A Six-Pack“–a 3-part series chronicling writer Dana McMahan‘s experience prepping for and getting fitness model photos taken for her portfolio–and there was no shortage of controversy over the grueling diet she followed to get industry standard’s sculpted, toned look. Many argued that getting a six-pack (or muscle tone, in general) requires nothing more than “eating right” and working out. Others (including Dana) argued that a lot of what determines muscle tone is genetic; despite being strong and healthy, not all of us are destined for easily-sculpted abs. More »

These Canadian Anti Obesity Ads Are Gross, But At Least They’re Not Fat-Shaming

These Canadian Anti Obesity Ads Are Gross, But At Least They're Not Fat-Shaming

The Ontario Medical Association really, really wants to curb obesity and discourage people from eating junk food. And although what they’ve come up with is pretty nauseating, we have to give them kudos: Instead of going the ever-popular fat-shaming route, they’re taking cues from the arguably more successful anti-tobacco campaigns to create anti obesity ads that mimic the labels many countries have put on cigarettes. They’re totally disgusting, but…they’re far kinder than close-ups of sad, fat families, and we’d bet they’ll be more successful, too. More »

Slutty Halloween’s Other Downside: The Pressure To Get A ‘Costume-Ready Body’

Slutty Halloween's Other Downside: The Pressure To Get A 'Costume-Ready Body'

Much has been said of Halloween‘s evolution into a holiday that sexualizes women. And, while the worst part is probably still the fact that even kids’ costumes have begun rampantly sexualizing young girls, we’re also perturbed by the diet and fitness industry’s new ploy to profit off of ‘Slutty Halloween’…by promoting “costume-ready body” diets and workout routines. More »

Daily Fail: Study Finds 29-Year-Old Women Are Hideous, Need More Anti-Aging Products

Daily Fail: Study Finds 29-Year-Old Women Are Hideous, Need More Anti-Aging Products

Crusading against the idea that all women over 30 are old hags has been something of a hobby horse of mine lately. It’s a fight that’s generally met with ‘Amen’s’ from Gen X and Y women and skepticism by similarly-aged men (note to guys: just because you personally don’t subscribe do the idea that it’s all downhill for women’s looks after 23 doesn’t mean we’re not bombarded with that message from myriad directions). Well, lo and behold — as if to perfectly illustrate my point — this Daily Mail article about how women worry about the visible effects of aging “at just 29 YEARS OLD.” Like so many pieces in our favorite tabloid, the writer is ostensibly credulous at this phenomenon while backhandedly exclaiming at how old and ugly 29-year-old women are. More »

Lena Dunham Will Show Her Thighs Until She’s 105; We Say Bring It On

Lena Dunham Will Show Her Thighs Until She's 105; We Say Bring It On

People sure have a lot to say about Lena Dunham. She’s rapidly become a cultural figure ripe for both conversation and criticism about everything from gender roles to racism to body image. What I like about her is that she’s actually participating in the conversation, too (with a healthy dose of self-awareness and humor), especially the conversation about her body. At a recent appearance at the New Yorker festival, she quipped: ”Get used to it. I’m going to live until 105 and I’m going to show my thighs every day.” More »

Video: Demi Lovato Continues To Inspire Us With Her Body Positivity

Video: Demi Lovato Continues To Inspire Us With Her Body Positivity

Demi Lovato continues to really impress me. She’s 20 years old, an actress and musician who has been through a very public battle with eating disorders, self-harm and mental illness, and she just continues to hit it out of the park with her positive attitude. The latest? A fan at one of Demi’s Brazil concerts threw a Barbie doll onstage, prompting the performer to speak out yet again about unrealistic standards of female beauty. And if the Christina Aguilera “fat girl” fake quote scandal from earlier this week proved anything, it’s that we’re hungry for honest talk about body image. More »

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