CLEVELAND, Ohio — You hear it every year. People talking about a “beach body,” “a summer body” or a “bikini body” and often wanting to get a certain type of body fast.
Cleveland Clinic psychologist Dr. Susan Albers said these terms perpetuate the idea that there is only one acceptable body type.
"They kick off an urgency that implies a need to have a last ditch effort to do something extreme like a fad diet to look a certain way in a bathing suit. This is incredibly destructive and can trigger some very significant eating issues,” Albers said.
It's all a part of diet culture, which favors being thin over health and well-being.
“It, unfortunately, really normalizes restrictive eating behavior and encourages and pressures people to feel guilty about what they eat and their body,” Albers said.
Research shows body image issues increase this time of year, according to Albers.
“A recent study found that participants who imagined trying on a bathing suit, not even actually trying on a bathing suit, just imagining, experience a significant increase in anxiety and depression. And many people can relate because approximately 85% of women and 45% of men report having a negative body image. And what research has found is if there is a seasonal impact as images of people in bathing suits and the turf each body starts to flood your social media feed there is an impact on self-esteem we see if you can to plummet this time of year,” Albers said.
She said it's good to want to exercise, eat healthier and feel motivated.
However, you should make it something you do gradually all year round rather than just a few months out of the year, avoid 'summer body' challenges.
"They are very tempting, but these terms imply that we should only care about our fitness and health one time of year. Instead, we can look at the summer being a time it is motivating to eat fresh fruits, get outside, do more exercise get more vitamin D. This is perfectly OKto want to invest in your body all year long," Albers said.