The Legacy of 2000's Skinny: How Body Trends Shape Self-Esteem Today

I was recently listening to Billie Eilish’s new song “Skinny.” The lyric goes, “people say I look happy, just because I got skinny.” If you lived through the 2000s skinny era, you know that skinny does not equate to “happy.” It can sometimes mean calorie counting, shame, constant weigh-ins, body checking, or feeling self-doubt about your body image.

When I was in college, I would weigh myself twice a day, stare at my body sideways in the mirror to determine where the bloating could be coming from, count my calories, and avoid excess sauces and carbs. I was 5’1” and 125 lbs. According to the body mass index (BMI) chart, I was overweight. I later realized that the BMI chart is not BIPOC-friendly. I remember my mother telling me in passing, “You know you have an eating disorder.” Bless her heart, there really is no easy way to deliver that statement. But it didn’t feel like an eating disorder; it felt “healthy” and “normal.” Little did I know at the time that, according to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), “Eating disorders involve persistent disturbances of eating or eating-related behavior that result in altered consumption or absorption of food and significantly impair physical health or psychosocial functioning.” Essentially, an eating disorder is not black and white. The gray area is that eating disorders are when someone has serious issues with eating (or exercise) that harm their health and make it hard to live a normal life.

If you lived through the 2000s skinny era, you know that skinny does not equate to “happy.”

I used to have a limited understanding of eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia. If I wasn’t under those two categories, then I was “healthy.” Or so I thought. My understanding of what was healthy came from social media, where Instagram fitness models promoted “detox teas” and “what I eat in a day” references. YouTubers binged on 24 bananas as their primary meal for the day or some other variety of fruit. Tumblr glorified “the thigh gap” and prominent collar bones. The internet taught me how to ‘body check’ as another means of keeping my weight on track. For me, body checking involved tiny rituals that kept me on track. I would habitually wrap my fingers around my wrists to ensure my fingers could still touch. I would press into my collar bone or inspect the mirror to ensure my collar bones were protruding. I would stare at my legs with my knees pressed together to ensure the infamous thigh gap was visible. This created an avoidance of weight gain, even a fear. I thought nothing of these behaviors because they became second nature. I felt in control of myself and my weight. But these habits consumed my every thought. I would avoid dinners with friends to avoid excess calories. If I did go out to eat, I would pick something I almost always felt ashamed of which led to self-punishment through excessive fitness in the days to follow. I feared falling off track and gaining the weight back. It was all-consuming.

It was while I was in my Diagnosis course in the master’s program of clinical mental health that it felt like all the pieces connected. According to the DSM-5:

Body dysmorphia, or Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), is a mental health condition where a person is overly concerned with perceived flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often minor or not visible to others. People with BDD may spend a lot of time looking in mirrors, grooming, or seeking reassurance about their looks. This obsession can cause significant distress and interfere with daily life, including social and work activities.

It felt as if someone laid out my lifelong behaviors to me on paper and told me ‘girl, this is in fact not healthy’. It felt reassuring to gain a perspective that wasn't being given by the masses. It in fact was not normal to skip dinners with friends in order to avoid “temptations”, to deprive myself of any meals until dinner because I had a date and didn't want to be bloated, to run miles alone at night because my fitness pal alarmed me that I exceeded my calorie intake for the day. What I believed was me being disciplined was me being fearful of weight gain because society said ‘if you are not the image we desire you are not deserving of self-acceptance’. For more on body dysmorphia, you can explore, ‘Beyond the Mirror: Strategies for Overcoming Body Dysmorphia’.

“What I believed was me being disciplined was me being fearful of weight gain because society said ‘if you are not the image we desire you are not deserving of self-acceptance”.

Now, years later, I find myself looking back at this time in my life (with the advantage of exploring the field of mental health) and recognizing that it wasn’t an isolated experience. It was an experience lived by a generation of women and girls. Every generation, to some capacity, experiences the social trends of the “ideal body image” and deals with the impacts of that pressure to fit what’s “currently in.” It’s wild to think that body images can exist as trends. In past generations, the trends were different, but the impacts and the messages were just as significant on women’s perception of self and their reality. Here is a timeline of some of the trends:

1950s - Curvy with a Small Waist: The perfect body was an hourglass figure like Marilyn Monroe.

Advice: Wear clothes that make your waist look smaller and your hips curvier.

1960s - Slim and Boyish:The ideal was very slim, like the model Twiggy.

  Advice: Stay very thin and keep your look youthful with minimal makeup.

1970s - Natural and Athletic: Healthy, athletic bodies were in style.

  Advice: Play sports and enjoy outdoor activities; keep your look natural.

1980s - Fit and Toned: The aerobics craze made toned, athletic bodies popular.

  Advice: Do regular fitness workouts and wear clothes that show your fit physique.

1990s - Very Thin and Androgynous: The "heroin chic" look was about being very thin and a bit edgy, like Kate Moss.

Advice: Maintain a very low body weight, often through restrictive dieting.

2000s - Extremely Thin: Thin bodies were highly desired, with an emphasis on visible bones.

Advice: Follow strict diets and exercise plans to stay very slim.

2010s - Fit and Curvy: A mix of fitness and curves became the trend, inspired by celebrities like Kim Kardashian.

Advice: Do strength training to build muscle while maintaining curves.

If you listen closely, you can hear the past generation’s impacts on the perception of not only ourselves but others. You might even notice some of the “advice” women in your family passed along to you that influenced your own perception of self. For more on the negative impacts of statements on body image, read, “Why What You Say Matters: The Negative Impacts of Statements on Body Image.”

So, what do we do with all this realization of trends and their impacts on body image? First, notice the trends. Notice what you're consuming on social media. Does it resonate with you or influence you? Media is sometimes deceitful, and half the time, what we are seeing is just a facade. Body trends come and go, and often they are unrealistic. Try following social media accounts that promote body positivity and diversity.

Second, be kind to yourself. Our bodies are meant to change and evolve throughout life, throughout menstrual cycles, and even from morning to night. Say it with me: bloating is okay! Try focusing more on what your body can do rather than how it looks. Do things that make you feel healthy and happy. Surround yourself with supportive people who don't reinforce negative body images and make you feel insecure in your home (aka your body).

Third, take care of your mind. Consider exploring this with a therapist. This can help you in exploring the different behaviors and thought patterns you want to work through to build confidence and self-acceptance. There might also be a need to rebuild your relationship with food and exercise. Reframing the wording so that there is less shame surrounding meals and movement (ex. carbs are bad).

“Our bodies are meant to change and evolve throughout life”.

Lastly, create your own standards. Redefine what beauty means to you, and find value outside of your physical appearance. Appreciate your unique features. Try not to compare yourself to others, especially those who fit the current trends. Everyone is different, and everyone is deserving of their bodies being “enough” and worthy of love and acceptance. Also, the comparison game only bounces from one person to the other. It’s endless and draining. If it’s not her (or him), then it’s her, her, and her (times infinity).

By understanding that body trends are here today and gone tomorrow, being kind to yourself, surrounding yourself with positive influences, and engaging in activities you enjoy, you can build a healthier relationship with yourself. This way, it isn’t a constant chase of waiting to enjoy life until you’re at a certain weight goal, but rather an acceptance of all the wonderfulness that you are. Your weight and image do not define your worthiness to enjoy life, to accept love, to embrace all that you are.

Pearl Velasquez

References:

Myers, T. A., & Crowther, J. H. (2008). Social comparison as a predictor of body dissatisfaction: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 117(4), 683–698. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013422

Phillips, K. A. (2009). Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder: An Essential Guide. Oxford University Press.