According to some health experts, most people these days literally starve in the name of being fit. They restrict their diet to an extreme level, and when probed about it, they often come back with something like, “I’m okay with it because I don’t want to be obese later on” or “I’d rather be slightly empty than being too full.” Even worse is when the motivation behind such a restrictive diet is having a flat tummy for a social media post!
To all such people out there – reading this post to the very end is imperative for you!
Studies have shown that this so-called trend of overly restrictive eating can have long-term negative impacts on your mind and body. How? Allow us to show you.
Where does it all begin?
The roots of this “bird-like-eating” tendency lie in the people we refer to as ‘influencers’ these days. Their philosophy of life seldom goes beyond the like, share, and comment buttons of their social media posts. But sadly, their number is increasing every day and more and more youngsters are flocking to them on a global level.
Did you know that there are over 48 million active Instagram posts with the hashtag ‘clean eating’? No wonder, diets like intermittent fasting and crash exercise programs have become a trend!
Eating less VS Eating disorder – know the difference!
Following inspirational people isn’t wrong, but it’s essential to know where to draw the line. Influencers often eat according to their personal health conditions and requirements which might not work for everyone.
For example, consuming fewer carbs might work for diabetic people and for those who have high blood pressure. Similarly, for people who have postural tachycardia syndrome, consuming gluten-free food and avoiding dairy products might be ideal. But such measures aren’t applicable to everyone, and thus shouldn’t be followed blindly.
Confining oneself to the pseudo-scientific restrictive eating disorder is harmful to health as well as the mind. Sometimes, it’s a journey of going nowhere, and eventually exploiting your wellbeing. Usually, this disorder is found amongst people in the 15 to 30 age group, essentially women. Come to think of it, this particular group has the most social media presence and influence, so the “want to look the best” can easily take over them.
Consequences of eating disorders
Most of us have heard of Anorexia and Bulimia. Both these disorders deal with the psychology of eating less, but their meanings differ with the quantity of food. In Anorexia, you tend to eat less with a desire to lose weight too quickly. Along similar lines, Bulimia includes extreme overeating, followed by intense fasting and sometimes even purging with a desire to achieve the perfect body type.
While you might be able to achieve a skinny body with both of these conditions, you should know that they can result in negative consequences like excessively thinning hair, constant headache, anemia, and dehydration.
What’s the best solution?
Self-acceptance and staying “healthy” alongside being fit is the key. Eating the right food and coupling that with the right workout regime can help you achieve your ideal body type without falling prey to negative effects. Think about it, would you really want a body that “looks” great but “feels” unwell?