This is a great article, Heidi. I did not know this was going on. This really resonated with me, "Because what Gen Z and Gen Alpha are reaching for isn’t always thinness — it’s belonging. It’s agency. It’s identity. But when those things get wrapped up in shrinking ourselves? That’s when the alarm bells ring."
Thank you, Rhaine. My naturopathic medicine education taught me always to be looking under the hood to see what our bodies/psyches are reaching for with certain signs and symptoms. And it's learning from people like you and my own growing up that teaches me more about what our souls want-- and to STOP SHRINKING appears to be primary!
Thanks so much for sharing this Heidi. I remember my bulimic early 20s and my obsessive exercise 30s. By my forties I had begun to accept my body and make friends with ALL the foods and moderate exercise. Anyway - I wish my younger sisters embrace their natural body.
Yes, Cindy, thank you for sharing this. It’s powerful to hear how your relationship with your body has evolved — I feel like this is a common experience, arriving at this acceptance at midlife. Yes, may our younger sisters embrace their natural selves sooner, with less struggle. 💗
It is overwhelmingly sad that wraith-like bodies are back. It’s the shame that gets raised that concerns me - feeling shame as well as using shame as an attack. For what?!
Yes Cathy! The return of that aesthetic is heartbreaking. And you’re so right: it’s the shame that sticks, distorts, and spreads. We deserve better than shrinking ourselves or each other. 💔💗
I remember the scary skinnies all too well. I was chasing those single digit Jean sizes and almost lost myself. Now, as a mom I am so afraid of a backslide for my kid to those times. even when picking gymnastic or dance studios for my toddler - I ask around about body attitudes of the lenders and teachers.
Thank you for sharing this, Kathy! That kind of awareness and advocacy, even in choosing spaces for your toddler, is powerful cycle-breaking work. This is the kind of stuff parenting articles + reels ought to be talking about (maybe they are?). Your kid is lucky to have you. 💪💗
This is such a timely and compassionate article, Heidi. Thank you for doing the work that you do. It’s so scary to watch this “trend” come back, and it’s so sickening to see the effect it is already having.
This is a great article, Heidi. I did not know this was going on. This really resonated with me, "Because what Gen Z and Gen Alpha are reaching for isn’t always thinness — it’s belonging. It’s agency. It’s identity. But when those things get wrapped up in shrinking ourselves? That’s when the alarm bells ring."
Thank you, Rhaine. My naturopathic medicine education taught me always to be looking under the hood to see what our bodies/psyches are reaching for with certain signs and symptoms. And it's learning from people like you and my own growing up that teaches me more about what our souls want-- and to STOP SHRINKING appears to be primary!
Thanks so much for sharing this Heidi. I remember my bulimic early 20s and my obsessive exercise 30s. By my forties I had begun to accept my body and make friends with ALL the foods and moderate exercise. Anyway - I wish my younger sisters embrace their natural body.
Yes, Cindy, thank you for sharing this. It’s powerful to hear how your relationship with your body has evolved — I feel like this is a common experience, arriving at this acceptance at midlife. Yes, may our younger sisters embrace their natural selves sooner, with less struggle. 💗
It is overwhelmingly sad that wraith-like bodies are back. It’s the shame that gets raised that concerns me - feeling shame as well as using shame as an attack. For what?!
Yes Cathy! The return of that aesthetic is heartbreaking. And you’re so right: it’s the shame that sticks, distorts, and spreads. We deserve better than shrinking ourselves or each other. 💔💗
I remember the scary skinnies all too well. I was chasing those single digit Jean sizes and almost lost myself. Now, as a mom I am so afraid of a backslide for my kid to those times. even when picking gymnastic or dance studios for my toddler - I ask around about body attitudes of the lenders and teachers.
Thank you for sharing this, Kathy! That kind of awareness and advocacy, even in choosing spaces for your toddler, is powerful cycle-breaking work. This is the kind of stuff parenting articles + reels ought to be talking about (maybe they are?). Your kid is lucky to have you. 💪💗
This was extraordinary. Thank you.
This is such a timely and compassionate article, Heidi. Thank you for doing the work that you do. It’s so scary to watch this “trend” come back, and it’s so sickening to see the effect it is already having.