Name: The inaccurate link between body ideals and health
Uploaded: 2021-09-14T16:15:15Z
Duration: 9 min 24 s
Description: Global obesity rates are on the rise, but body shaming campaigns are doing more harm than good, says medical anthropologist Nancy N. Chen. Reflecting on how the cultural histories of body ideals have changed over time, she offers a new way to view ourselves and our health by enhancing body diversity to close the gap between what's ideal and what's real.

Global obesity rates are on the rise, but body shaming campaigns are doing more harm than good, says medical anthropologist Nancy N. Chen. Reflecting on how the cultural histories of body ideals have changed over time, she offers a new way to view ourselves and our health by enhancing body diversity to close the gap between what's ideal and what's real.

The inaccurate link between body ideals and health

Body standards have shifted dramatically, from curvy fertility figures like the Venus of Willendorf to the rise of thinness as a mark of prestige. The gap between real bodies and media ideals has widened, fueling shame and eating disorders worldwide. Not all cultures value thinness; some see plumpness as healthy and socially desirable. Embracing body diversity and focusing on internal well-being, rather than appearance, can foster genuine health and inclusion.