Editorial: There is no such thing as a summer body

I SA b ELLE N UNES

As the summer season quickly approaches, body image issues and unhealthy eating patterns continue to rise with the heat. Plastered over social media are tips on how to “get skinny” or “bulk up;” practices supposedly necessary for people to look their very best in summer clothes.

The surge in media that negatively impacts body image applies to those of all genders, ages, and sizes. When the media is filled with promotions of dangerous diet or exercise patterns, feelings of inadequacy nearly always become inevitable.

Diets and issues pertaining to body image are especially common during the summer months when the pressure to look a certain way is at an all-time high. According to Mayo Clinic, preoccupation with appearance and fixating on perceived flaws can be symptoms of body dysmorphia that may negatively impact other areas of life.

Low self-image can be particularly heightened during the summer when social media consumers are encouraged to achieve the perfect “summer body” everyone so often craves. But what does a summer body actually mean?

The idea of a so-called summer body is entirely fabricated by the media, encouraging viewers that they must look a certain way to feel good about themselves. In reality, a summer body looks no different from one at any other time of the year and merely pressures individuals that their bodies somehow need to change.

Generally, this idea is associated with practices that may not be in your body’s best interest; it can encourage undereating and overexercising, all for the sake of shaping into a “whole new you.”

The rise of diet culture also makes some believe that they must change their bodies to fit into or fill out certain clothes. There is nothing wrong with wanting to feel confident in the way you look, but it is essential to remember that this can be achieved without transforming your body for the sake of a summer wardrobe.

Trying on a pair of old jeans that don’t fit anymore is not a sign to overexercise or restrict food for the sole purpose of buttoning them up. It is normal for our bodies to change over time, and constantly adapting ourselves to fit into clothes can be extremely harmful in the long run.

Rather than struggling to fit in clothes that feel uncomfortable, remember that clothes are meant to fit you, not the other way around. Embracing insecurities certainly sounds much easier said than done, but wearing outfits that make you feel confident and comfortable can be the first step toward that process.