A Single Body: How American Beauty Standards Do Not Always Promote Overall Health

By Paul Fimiano

Introduction: The Ideal Body

Our bodies are temples—we must constantly care for them by eating healthy foods, avoiding overindulgence, and exercising regularly to maintain a healthy weight. However, doing these things does not always guarantee a healthy body or overall well-being. Likewise, just because our body looks a certain way—especially in the context of conventional beauty standards—does not mean one is healthier than a person who does not fit convention; there are many factors that contribute to the overall health and well-being of a person. In short, it is important to recognize that just because someone's body looks a certain way—or matches conventional standards—it does not guarantee they are always healthy. However, this is not to say that someone with the "ideal" body type is necessarily unhealthier than someone who is overweight, obese, etc. That said, it is important to assess the rhetoric suggesting that a healthy-looking body—one that is slim, muscular, and conforms to conventional beauty standards—necessarily promotes overall well-being and physical health.

A woman—with long black hair and black clothes—says that we need to accept that everyone's bodies are different to be body-positive.

Section I: A Healthy-looking Body Always Means Healthy Overall: A Short History:

A widespread narrative—particularly in America—equates conventionally attractive bodies, typically slim and muscular, with being healthy. This way of thinking in the United States began in the 19th century and evolved throughout the 20th century—particularly in the 1970s, after World War II—into what is now known as "diet culture.” This shift was solidified with the release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in the early 1980s. It is worth noting that the phrase “diet culture” did not emerge until the late 2010s, but the release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans did note a huge cultural shift in how we see the body and health—thinness became associated with responsibility, self-control, and overall physical and mental health.

I previously noted that "diet culture" gained prominence in the early 2010s—which it did—but it became even more widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in 2020 and 2021, as body image concerns and wellness trends intensified on Tiktok. The main movement that came from Tiktok is the "Body Positivity Movement"—this movement began in 1969, gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, and became even more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic. This movement is about self-acceptance—loving yourself for who you are and not letting your physicals reduce that love. Once again, this movement gained significant traction on TikTok in 2021. However, it also brought with it rhetoric designed to demean and dehumanize overweight individuals, labeling them as unhealthy and insisting that only slim, muscular bodies are truly healthy—bodies that are supposedly essential to an individual's overall mental and physical well-being. An article written by Grace Bragdon on Project Heal said this: “The issue isn’t that people have fat or that they weigh more than they used to; the issue is that our society is so violently anti-fat that these things are seen as problems.” The phrase "violently anti-fat" ties back to this anti-body positivity rhetoric and further connects to a broader cultural narrative—particularly in American society—that only thin, muscular bodies, which conform to conventional standards, are considered truly healthy, both mentally and physically.

People who promote anti-body positivity rhetoric or believe that thinner, more muscular individuals are generally healthier than those who are overweight are not entirely wrong. According to a 2024 article from the Cleveland Clinic, excess body fat can lead to obesity and is associated with an increased risk of serious health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. In this same article, the Cleveland Clinic also says, “Even if you have a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index), a high body fat percentage is linked with increased mortality. In other words, carrying a lot of fat can increase your risk of dying earlier.” So, in short, the proponents of this rhetoric are not entirely wrong—where their argument falls apart is in the claim that anyone who is overweight, obese, or plus-size is completely unhealthy, either physically or mentally. This brings us to the next section of the critique, which examines the arguments made by proponents of anti-body positivity rhetoric—acknowledging where their points hold merit while ultimately deconstructing the harm their rhetoric causes.

Section II: The Health of a Human Is Nuanced:

An individual’s health—whether physical or mental, regardless of body size—is highly subjective and influenced by a complex interplay of personal, social, and biological factors. While I will not address each factor individually, they are relevant to this discussion, as many proponents of anti-body positivity argue that anyone who is overweight—or even extremely thin—is inherently unhealthy. In short, they believe that anyone who does not fit conventional body standards—such as being slim, muscular, lean, and having a “healthy” BMI—is automatically considered unhealthy. This is where their argument becomes flawed—especially in assuming that having a "healthy" BMI automatically means someone is healthier than a person who falls outside that range.

I want to emphasize that individuals who are slimmer or align with conventional health standards are often viewed more favorably—especially when compared to those who are overweight. As I noted previously, "excess body fat can lead to obesity and is associated with an increased risk of serious health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers" (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). However, this argument falls short—most medical research shows that aligning with conventional body standards or being slimmer does not necessarily mean you are healthier, either physically or mentally. An article by Joanna Foley, fact-checked by Dr. Katie E. Golden, explains, “Having extra body weight increases the risk of certain health conditions, but that does not mean having less body weight guarantees good health.”  Proponents of anti-body positivity argue that being thin or conforming to conventional body standards automatically implies good health; however, the statement “but that does not mean having less body weight guarantees good health” directly challenges this belief because being thinner also comes with consequences.

The article also highlights another important point: “Some people can have very unhealthy diets and lifestyles and still be at a weight [and have a body that matches conventional standards] that is perceived as healthy." The article also highlights several health risks faced by individuals who are thin or who conform to conventional body standards—these include fragile bones, fertility issues in women, a weakened immune system, malnutrition, anemia, and even an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Finally, the article ends with this: “Having a larger body size does not automatically mean someone is in poor health, just as having a smaller body size doesn’t automatically mean someone is in good health.” This sentence captures the core of my critique of those who oppose body positivity: everybody is unique and functions differently—there is no one-size-fits-all standard for health. Because the main argument against body positivity assumes that anyone who is overweight or does not fit conventional body standards is unhealthy, most medical research directly refutes this claim. In short, whether someone is skinny, fits society’s standards of a “healthy” body, is overweight, has a high BMI, or is obese, it is impossible to determine their health—mentally, emotionally, or physically—based on appearance alone.

Conclusion: Health is Nuanced:

A person’s health is nuanced and multifaceted, influenced by a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional factors. It is overly simplistic to label someone as “healthy” just because they fit society’s standards—especially when those standards are based on appearance. While it may seem reasonable to assume that individuals who are in shape or meet conventional body ideals are healthier than those who are obese, the reality is more complex: meeting those standards does not guarantee better overall health.

In short, the arguments and rhetoric of those who oppose body positivity are short-sighted, as they overlook the holistic nature of health. While some of their claims may seem plausible—such as the idea that people who are fit or align with societal body norms are healthier than those who are obese—they fail to acknowledge a crucial truth: every individual is different, and even those who are thin or in shape can still be unhealthy. This lack of nuance is where their argument ultimately falls apart.

This is why it is important to remember that every person’s body and health are influenced by many different factors—everyone is unique.

References:

History of Dietary Guidelines. (2020). Dietary Guidelines for Americans. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/about-dietary-guidelines/history-dietary-guidelines.

Huber, J. (2024). Dear Diet Culture Diary: What the 80s Taught Us About Food. The Menopause Nutritionist. https://www.menopausenutritionist.ca/blog/diet-culture-diary-80s-food#:~:text=We%20were%20taught%20that%20everything,diagnosis%20like%20diabetes%2C%20for%20example..

Osborn, T. (n.d.). From New York To Instagram: The history of the body positivity movement. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z2w7dp3.

Bragdon, G. (2021). “Body Positivity” or Thinness Conformation? Anti-fatness in Eating Disorder Recovery Spaces. Project Heal. https://www.theprojectheal.org/blog/is-it-body-positivity-or-just-thinness-confirmation-anti-fatness-in-ed-recovery-and-self-love-spaces.

The Difference Between Muscle Weight v.s. Fat Weight. (2024). Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/muscle-vs-fat-weight.

Foley, J., and Golden, K. (2023). Health Debunked: Is Being Skinny Healthy? GoodRX. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/weight/is-being-skinny-healthy.