The Problem With Weight Loss Transformation Pictures
As someone who was once a hardcore health food blogger, it wasn’t uncommon for me to see weight loss announcements in the form of before-and-after photos on my Instagram Explore page. These photos always made me uneasy, and it wasn’t until I came across the term ‘body neutrality’ that it clicked.
It’s not healthy to be fixated on the appearance of your body. Although, capitalism, diet culture and Eurocentric beauty standards tell us otherwise. Body neutrality might seem like a fairly simple concept, but it is a radical act of self-love in today’s society. It poses that we should focus on what our bodies do rather than how our bodies look.
Confining yourself to the notion that thinness is equivalent to attractiveness is not only detrimental to your mental health, it ultimately hurts people in bigger bodies.
Before-and-after photos incite comparison. They draw attention to the fact that you are noticeably smaller than before, displaying a clear bias. To be so preoccupied with the appearance of your body that you document weight loss as if it is an accomplishment is to publicly declare that bigger bodies are flawed and must be fixed. Weight loss is admirable, while weight gain is shameful. Weight loss transformation pictures imply that thinness is a goal that all femmes should strive to. Whether the intentions are pure or not, these photos feed into diet culture and fatphobia.
The way people react to before-and-after photos is a testament to society’s preference for thinness. “Congratulations!” “I am so proud of you.” The list goes on. This was evident on Adele’s 32nd birthday. She posted a celebratory picture in which it was clear that she had lost some weight. Although it is human nature to react to a visible change in someone’s body, it is rarely appropriate. That didn’t stop the entire country from chiming in, and of course the comments were overwhelmingly positive. The comments I found most interesting were the ones suggesting that she must now be ‘healthier.’
Equating thinness to health is a false notion that is far too common. This narrative is often upheld by industries and individuals who capitalize on weight loss. It justifies their fatphobic ways and they use before-and-after photos as marketing tools. They have everything to gain and we have everything to lose. The idea that smaller bodies are inherently healthy is also a crutch that people lean on when they do not want to admit their disdain for fatness.
Relying on physical attributes as an indication of your health is unrewarding. Having fitness goals that are rooted in strength, ability or skill are far more fulfilling. Meaningful change is not always visible and true happiness cannot be achieved by an over fixation on the body. Especially in today’s society, where we are expected to meet a new standard of beauty every three years.
There is no one person to blame for the beauty standards that are ingrained into our minds. However, these standards will continue to torture us and other femmes if we do not think critically about our preferences and habits. If weight loss solely for aesthetic purposes is your goal, ask yourself why. If you feel more confident when your abs are visible and when there is a gap between your thighs, ask yourself why. And rather than fixating on the things you would like to change about your body, thank it for keeping you alive. Thank it for being your home.
Written by Ife Jade Abel
Side Panel photo by Marta Longas from Pexels
