All articles tagged with #body image
A study of 252 UK women found that satisfaction with clothing correlates with better overall well-being, and outfits that fit well and feel age-appropriate reduce social withdrawal, suggesting wardrobe refreshes can support social and mental health, especially for middle-aged women.
Utah has become a leading hub for plastic and cosmetic surgery, driven by demographics, culture, and media influence. The state has a high per-capita number of plastic surgeons, especially in Salt Lake County, and interest in cosmetic procedures has surged in search data. Experts point to religious and cultural factors—including perfectionism and the importance of family—as drivers behind the rise in mommy makeovers, breast and facial procedures, and a trend toward more natural results, aided by affordability and access beyond the wealthiest patients.
Hilary Duff says posing for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit as a mother of four was a little scary but flattering, highlighting her ongoing battle against body-shaming and her comeback in music, including details about her kids Luca, Banks, Mae and Townes and plans for the Luck... or Something album and the Lucky Me Tour.
Comedian Tiffany Haddish, 46, stars on Sports Illustrated’s 2026 Swimsuit Issue cover, saying the shoot reshaped how she views her body and aims to empower other women to transform and feel confident; the Baja California Sur shoot features a two-tone bikini, with alternate covers by Alix Earle and Nicole Williams English, and Haddish’s journey—from foster care to overcoming knee injuries—fueling her message.
Stevie Nicks, 77, speaks about battling body-image issues after attending the Met Gala for the first time, noting that at 5'1½ she can’t stay very thin and that accepting her body has been hard; she performed Landslide at the event with Sabrina Carpenter.
Elise Brandon reviews Freya India’s GirlsⓇ, praising its thorough, research-driven look at how tech and culture commodify Gen Z girls across appearance, emotions, online sharing, relationships, and fulfillment. The book argues that worry and desire are monetized, and it advocates real relationships and Christian-informed ethics to recover humanity. While readable and compelling, it can be repetitive and data-heavy for younger readers. The reviewer also notes a need for external guidance beyond self-empowerment and suggests the book is a strong resource for parents and older readers.
GLP-1 medications, now available as weight‑loss pills, can improve metabolic and cardiovascular health, but their rising visibility risks normalizing the thin ideal and potentially triggering disordered eating; experts emphasize careful screening, multidisciplinary treatment, and that these drugs are not a cure for eating disorders, with long-term effects still largely unknown and resources like NEDA available.
An opinion piece argues that looksmaxxing—an obsessive pursuit of facial aesthetics—has become a conduit for extremist ideas within the online manosphere. Using the figure Clavicular as a case study, it shows how forums and influencers repurpose self‑improvement rhetoric into anti‑system and far‑right ideologies (often linked to concepts like Granola Nazism), warns of “jestermaxx” behavior that undermines critical thinking, and contends that digital diffusion of these ideas could influence politics and elections if left unchecked.
The Looker examines the growing use of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic among people who are already underweight or of normal BMI. Experts warn that using GLP-1s outside approved indications can trigger nutritional deficiencies, hormonal disruption, and loss of bone or muscle, and may worsen disordered eating or body-image issues. While celebrities discuss dramatic weight loss, clinicians emphasize these meds are not cosmetic supplements and should be used only under medical supervision. The piece also notes the social and mental-health implications and encourages seeking professional help for disordered eating.
Therapists say size anxiety is real, fueled by cultural messages that equate penis size with masculinity and sexual prowess. The issue often masks deeper body-image wounds and can lead to anxiety, avoidance, and performance pressure. Experts recommend acknowledging the fear, communicating openly with partners, reframing sex beyond penetration, and focusing on presence and pleasure through varied positions and erogenous zones rather than fixating on size.
A new plastic surgery trend called rib remodeling surgically reshapes the lower ribs to make the waist slimmer without bone removal; the procedure costs roughly $10,000–$15,000, has about a three-month recovery during which patients wear a corset, and carries risks such as lung injury. The rise is linked to social media visibility, reduced stigma around cosmetic procedures, and GLP-1 weight-loss meds, with clients typically already thin seeking a more pronounced waist (including some transgender individuals).
A Axios piece argues the body positivity movement remains vital even as a GLP-1–driven slimming trend and celebrity focus dominate media, risking a return to thin-ideal norms. Experts warn this creates a two-tier world where access to medical weight interventions shapes self-perception and mental health, while activists emphasize reframing GLP-1s as disease-treating tools rather than vanity products. The fight for body diversity is framed as a social-justice issue that remains ongoing despite changing trends.
UNC-Chapel Hill students describe an escalating drive to bulk up—rapid weight gain, extreme dieting and supplement use—driven by muscle dysmorphia; experts note men are underdiagnosed and encourage treatment focused on health and performance, with campus groups offering community and education to reduce isolation.
Valerie Bertinelli's memoir Getting Naked chronicles not just her public life but private struggles—from divorce and career upheaval to childhood sexual abuse and EMDR therapy—leading to forgiveness, a commitment to self-acceptance and emotional safety, a shift away from diet culture and plastic surgery, and the revelation that posing nude for the cover was a fear she faced once and won't repeat.
Hilary Duff discusses her painful 2014 divorce from Mike Comrie, her ongoing co-parenting arrangement, and a complicated family dynamic (including a rift with sister Haylie). She also details how growing up in Disney affected her innocence and body image, and ties these experiences to the emotional themes on her Luck… or Something album and upcoming tour.