How many times has someone told you what you need to do to be “healthier?” Whether it was a friend (or frenemy), doctor, parent, or a commercial, at some point we’ve probably all experienced this. Sometimes the advice is good – maybe we really should be eating more vegetables. However, sometimes the health advice may make a lot of assumptions about you and your body. The problem with some health recommendations is that they assume everyone is the same. This post will dive into the uniform health standards, expose the sources that distort your perception of health, and define what health means here.
Please note this is not medical advice.
The “one-size-fits-all” standard of health
I first realized my concept of health was entirely dependent on external sources by talking to one of my closest friends. I was sharing my personal struggles with frequently feeling low on energy. I remember expressing how frustrated I was because I was eating three meals a day, so I felt as if I had been properly nourishing my body.
She asked what was stopping me from eating more meals throughout the day to give me the energy boost I needed. It seemed so obvious when she said it, but it went against my concept of health, so I wouldn’t have thought of it on my own.
My standard was defined by some “rule” that a “normal” person should only eat three meals a day. That’s when I realized how dependent my concept of health was on external sources. The major problem with this is that these general rules assume everyone is the same. Everyone is different, and what’s healthy for one may be unhealthy for another.
For example, someone with a peanut allergy cannot eat peanuts just because other people can. A “normal” body doesn’t exist because we are all different!
Did you know that females are 50% more likely than men to be misdiagnosed for a heart attack? That’s because most medical research is based on studies of male patients. Symptoms for females can be completely different!
Another example is using BMI to evaluate a “healthy” weight. This measurement doesn’t consider muscle mass, which weighs more than fat. It also doesn’t consider bone density or other factors. This standard has many flaws, but it is prevalently used for the benchmark of a “healthy” weight. It makes a lot of assumptions about a “normal” body that are not accurate for everyone.
What distorts our perception of health
There are so many factors that shape our perception of health that it can be difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. We especially trust recommendations from people with authority including experts, doctors, and researchers. The heart attack and BMI examples show that experts don’t always have the right answers.
Sizing
Clothing sizes are constructs that contribute to our standard of normal. Sizes were just meaningless numbers until designers gave them meaning. Brands intentionally label clothing sizes to make their customers feel some type of way.
For example, some brands may set their size 0 to fit an average 8th grader, while other brands set their sizes to fit the average women. According to recent research, the average American woman is a size 14, while most clothing brand sizes do not exceed size 12. What is the purpose of creating clothing that doesn’t fit half the population?!?
Since size is a construct, it can be manipulated to make people feel better or worse about themselves when the can or cannot fit into a certain size. Our purpose is not to fit into clothing. The purpose of clothing is to fit us!
Advertising
Beyond that, advertising contributes to our standard concept of health and stereotypical beauty perceptions. Victoria Secret is a classic example of promoting one body type and only one standard of beauty. More examples include diet promotions and even some fitness programs (especially if their names include the words “bikini body”).
Social Media
Society and social media contribute to our perceptions and standards too. With digital editing, it’s possible to eliminate all insecurities. The daily media we see further supports our concepts of health and beauty.
When we see something that doesn’t align with our beliefs, it may be easy to criticize and make judgements. These are all signs that point to our perception of health.
I challenge you to think about where your perceptions come from and to evaluate how many of them come from external sources.
Stigma
Finally, mental health is a major, often neglected, part of health. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember that self-care involves both mental and physical aspects of health. It’s important to remember that mental health can and does affect physical health as well.
If you can think of any other sources, please contact me so we can add them to this list. It’s so important that we are aware of the influences on our perceptions so they cease to have power over us!
What health means here
While this blog will talk about health in terms of fitness, food, and mental health, remember that you are unique. What works for one will not work for all. We all have our own struggles, fears, and insecurities. Everyone is welcome here.
When this blog encourages exercise, it’s for the health benefits and mood boosts, not to promote a certain body type. The purpose of health is to energize and appreciate our bodies as they are.
Place your hands over your heart and breathe as you listen to it beat. You are alive and your body will give you the energy to live your best life. There’s nothing more precious.
We need to be aware of the sources that distort our perception of health so they cease to have influence over us! I want as many people to see this information as possible, so we can learn to give ourselves a little extra love. If this post gave you new insights, please share it with your friends!
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