A term has emerged in popular culture that humorously encapsulates a specific type of parental behavior surrounding food and diet: the “almond mom.” But what exactly are almond moms, and why has this term gained traction? An almond mom is a parent, typically represented as a mother, who exhibits a preoccupation with health, diet, and body image, often to an extreme. These parents may encourage restrictive eating habits, prioritize low-calorie foods and diets, and express concerns about weight and appearance. The term itself draws from anecdotes shared on social media where mothers would sugges ..read more

In the fashion industry, there has long been a preference for designing clothes that align with the prevailing beauty standard rather than catering to the needs of the average person. This trend often leads to a huge gap in both the quality and effort put into clothing that fits everyday individuals. Historically, the emphasis on thin models and idealized beauty standards predates many fashion trends, shaping how clothing is designed and marketed. As a result, those who do not conform to these standards frequently find themselves with less attention to fit and design in mainstream fashion. The ..read more

Some names have been changed to protect individuals' privacy.  Every Saturday morning during the academic year, Coach Mark laces up his shoes and takes his daughter to their local Girls on the Run team’s practice. Mark began coaching the team when his daughter Sarah joined last year. Recently, though, he dreaded going. Sarah – one of the girls on the team – struggled to keep up with the other girls.  When Sarah fell behind, Mark slowed his pace to run alongside Sarah. But, weeks passed, and Sarah wasn’t moving any faster than when she started. He grew frustrated and impatient. On one ..read more

Gym culture’s supposed endorsement of personal empowerment is clouded by misguided fitness advice from those filled with ego, greed, and power. What used to be an outlet for stress or simply a place to move one’s body now accommodates a culture that endorses scarfing down caffeinated powders and injecting performing-enhancing drugs into one’s body. Toxic gym culture refers to the harmful and unrealistic expectations and behaviors within the fitness industry. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have led to the rise of fitness influencers who showcase statue-like ..read more

When my brother was born, my mother brought her pre-pregnancy clothes to the hospital, expecting to wear them home. Despite being a physician herself, she was still surprised when she had to return home in her maternity clothes instead. Unfortunately, my mother is not alone in having unrealistic expectations about her postpartum body.  Bringing life into the world is a challenging feat. Giving birth pushes an individual’s body to the limits of its capabilities, and the pregnant and postpartum body exemplifies the unique physical changes those who give birth undergo before, during, and aft ..read more

To satiate the demands of the thin ideal, many find themselves desperate in search of anything to relieve these pressures. Unfortunately, the medical industry is a significant contributor to this issue. With the promotion of pharmaceuticals and weight loss surgeries, it is an active endorser of conformity to society’s ill-informed standards.  Recently, the world has witnessed an increasing attraction toward semaglutide. Semaglutide, commercially known as Ozempic, was approved as a treatment for diabetes in 2017 and causes weight loss. The drug works by mimicking the action of a naturally ..read more

My Chinese culture shapes me in many ways, even though I’ve grown up in the U.S. Growing up in a Chinese family, many beauty standards are implicitly expected of me. My culture deems slender figures as worthy of praise, while larger bodies symbolize shame, laziness, and a lack of self-care. Thinness receives compliments and greater respect, and such beauty is portrayed as effortless and the norm. Ever since I was a toddler, I was naturally thin and received bodily praise from parents of close friends that are also Asian. Their comments on how I was naturally born ingrained an expectation and p ..read more

The pharmaceutical industry is largely unregulated, allowing for a dangerous and uncontrolled market. In 1944, former Utah senator Orin Hatch established legislation excluding dietary supplements from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight. Instead, consumers must rely on the claims of companies about the safety and efficacy of their products.   The lack of regulation is detrimental. Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA recorded 23,000 emergency room visits due to supplement use, and over half were due to supplements involving f ..read more

Content warning: This blog contains language that pertains to eating disorders. I always needed to be in control. At 14 years old, I intensely desired both academic and personal perfection. I laid out meticulous schedules, to-do lists, and obsessed over perfecting school work. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified my desire for control amidst an ever-changing world. I aspired to become a “better” version of myself, and this time at home was the perfect opportunity for me to achieve this goal. Quarantine trapped me with thoughts of the desire to transform myself physically. It started with a “healthi ..read more

As a senior in the APEX Capstone Project at Walter Johnson High School, I was prompted to create a product on anything I was passionate about with an academic stretch. I knew I wanted to work with the brain to challenge beliefs about weight in our society from the start. I bounced from idea to idea, not feeling satisfied with any of them. I quickly realized that there is no quick fix to our implicit biases, and my product had to reflect that. To actively challenge the reader, I decided to use the format of a guide. I learned a lot from this project about the science behind implicit bias and th ..read more