Body Shapes: Trends, and the Importance of Realistic Goals
Hourglass figures; curves; ‘thicc’ thighs; toned bodies; slim and slender. Body shapes have been a cornerstone trend when it comes to beauty in the public eye for generations, and remain impactful to this day. Standards set by contemporary trends inspire many to make changes in their own lives – but how healthy is it?
Body Trends Past and Present
When it comes to looks and body goals, trends are unavoidable – and naturally prone to change. Many individual body goals are based on looks and body shapes that have been popularised by beauty media and celebrities (amongst myriad other factors).
For women today, these trends hark back to the ‘hourglass’ figure trend, popularised in the 60s by famous actresses like Marilyn Monroe. But new elements have also been incorporated, such as athletic physiques; more toned figures have seen a significant growth in popularity on social media platforms like TikTok.
But many of these ‘ideal’ shapes are not possible to achieve by exercise alone – indeed, previous trends have only been achievable as a result of dangerous dietary habits or pure genetics. Thigh gaps were a popular trend in the late 2010s, but require the right bone structure to achieve. As a result, many were adopting unhealthy practices to attempt to meet an unrealistic beauty standard.
Unrealistic Standards, and the Dangers of Manufactured Content
Unrealistic standards do not appear from thin air, though. They are perpetuated by individuals and organisations to which many look for inspiration and even guidance, especially when it comes to personal appearance. Influencers and celebrities in the public eye have a significant degree of control over the trends and body shapes that become popular – the Kardashians being a strong example.
But their control over these trends does not come from a preternatural ability to achieve the ‘ideal’ body shape for the time. Indeed, use of digital editing software and social media filters have contributed to the proliferation of impossible beauty standards, with celebrities from Kelly Brook to Kylie Jenner using Photoshop to achieve their signature body shapes and styles.
Forging a Healthy Path to Self-Confidence
While unrealistic body standards undoubtedly feed into the growing prevalence of body dysmorphia amongst younger people, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Body positivity movements are equipping people with more tools and knowledge to make peace with their bodies – and information with which to make healthy changes that suit them.
Plastic surgery is a topic that often comes alongside discussions of body trends, with surgical interventions often the only way to achieve certain trends – the ‘Brazilian butt lift’ being a key example. But cosmetic surgeries can also be a healthy way to achieve body and physical health goals you may otherwise find difficult; gastric band surgery can be a real help to those with dietary issues in cutting down their intake and improving their relationship with their weight.
Ultimately, the discussion over body trends and personal decision-making is one that necessarily needs to put people at the centre. Vulnerable people with self-esteem issues are more likely to be harmed by the false narratives put forth by edited images – but positive, considered changes towards a better body can have a profound impact on mental health.
