In an era where the “selfie” serves as a social identity card, our relationship with our bodies has profoundly changed. What was once a private matter is now a permanent public exhibition. Between the call for perfection and the glamorous escalation of body modification, one question remains: where is the line between self-care and pathological obsession?
The Distorting Mirror of Social Media and Digital Dysmorphia
The verdict is clear: we are in the age of digital dysmorphia. Social media, dominated by Instagram and TikTok, no longer just broadcast beauty standards; they produce them through algorithms designed as a form of hyper-aestheticism.
Validation by the “Like” and Body Dissatisfaction
Instagram tends to be the platform with the worst effects on the mental health of young people, according to a report by the Royal Society for Public Health. This type of constant exposure to retouched or filtered bodies creates cognitive dissonance. The brain becomes desensitized to the fact that what is extraordinary (visible abs year-round, a total absence of cellulite) is portrayed as typical. This incessant upward comparison fuels what psychologists call body dissatisfaction, one of the most powerful predictors of eating disorders (ED).
The Market of Illusion: Slimming Supplements and Steroids
This dissatisfaction is the engine of capitalism. The wellness market is now worth several trillion dollars, but there are darker truths behind the lies told about “health”.
Scientifically Proven or Just Marketed Slimming Supplements?
Most “fat burners” sold online have very weak clinical evidence. A recent meta-analysis published in Obesity Reviews revealed that the impact of most of these products is not much stronger than a placebo and often presents potential risks of palpitations or undocumented drug interactions.+1
The Shadow of Steroids and Recreational Doping
Even more concerning, the use of performance-enhancing substances (anabolic steroids, SARMs) is moving out of professional gyms and reaching amateurs. The quest for a body “sculpted by the gods” pushes young men toward bigorexia (or muscle dysmorphia)—an addiction to exercise and a distorted perception of one’s own musculature. The impact on the cardiovascular and hormonal systems is generally irreversible.
Body Positivity, Self-Acceptance, and Medical Reality
With growing pressure from these issues, the Body Positivity movement emerged to fight for greater acceptance of all body types. It is an essential step toward a humanistic worldview, but it can sometimes pose an ethical dilemma at the medical level.
Self-Acceptance is Not a Denial of Health
The notion of a “medically acceptable weight” is complex. While excellent for population statistics, Body Mass Index (BMI) is increasingly criticized for its individual inaccuracy because it does not differentiate between fat and muscle.+1
The focus should shift toward metabolic health:
- Fasting blood glucose levels.
- Blood pressure.
- Waist circumference as an indicator of visceral fat.
It is possible to be overweight by classic standards while having excellent biological markers. Conversely, “metabolically obese normal weight” (skinny-fat) exists. Balance lies in body autonomy: loving oneself enough to want the body to be nourished by the nutrients and movement it needs, without scolding oneself for a number on a scale.
Overweight Therapies: What Actually Works
For those whose body weight is a genuine threat to their health (Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, joint disease), science offers treatments that avoid punitive restrictive diets—which fail about 95% of the time due to the “yo-yo effect,” according to ANSES.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This is arguably the most powerful tool. CBT helps uncover the emotional triggers for snacking and unpacks limiting thoughts regarding food. It educates one not to “eat less,” but to “eat mindfully”.+1
Multidisciplinary Care
Studies indicate that the best long-term results come from a combination of:
- Nutritionist/Dietitian: For a gentler form of nutritional education.
- Adapted Physical Activity (APA): Where the goal is joy in movement, not calorie expenditure.
- Psychological Support: To treat root causes such as stress, trauma, or low self-esteem.
New Pharmacological Innovations (Under Strict Control)
The advent of medications like semaglutide (originally for diabetes) has transformed obesity medicine. While extremely effective for inducing weight loss, scientists emphasize that these are not “miracle pills” for aesthetic appeal, but serious medications that must be monitored by healthcare professionals to minimize side effects and prevent weight regain after discontinuation.
Conclusion: Toward an Ecology of the Self
The cult of the body is a symptom of a culture that prefers having to being. How far will we go? Until we realize that the body is not an object to be sculpted for others, but the means to become who we are. True health boils down to the fine line between embracing our imperfections and the discipline required to preserve our most important resource—life. Cultivating one’s body is a noble goal, as long as the gardener does not hate the garden just because it doesn’t look like a catalog.
Sources and References
- Status of Mind Report, Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).
- ANSES, “Assessment of risks related to dietary weight loss practices”.
- Obesity Reviews, “Effectiveness of commercial weight loss programs”.
- Journal of Clinical Psychology, “Body dysmorphic disorder and social media”.
