CW: eating disorders

To whoever is in charge of unrealistic beauty standards,

Beauty standards have evolved throughout history to reflect the changing times. But in recent years, it’s virtually impossible to keep up. The peak of aesthetics today may be forgotten or ridiculed tomorrow. 

The problems of the diet culture of the 90s and 00s are well-documented, as is the devastatingly long-term impact that they have had on an entire generation. Diet culture manifested in subtle or overt messaging in film and TV, including extreme cases, such as Chris Evans weighing members of the Spice Girls live on TV. It was a trying time, and the effects are ongoing for thousands of women.

While this toxic diet culture might seem a problem of a bygone era, we must not be ignorant of the return of this devastating trend in today’s culture. Any progress that was made by the Body Positivity movement is now long forgotten, as advocates for this wonderful sign of progress have now turned away from the cause. They recognise the new standard that “thin is in”, which we’re unfortunately seeing from  many angles. 

It would be unrealistic to speak about this trend without discussing the influence of Ozempic and other drugs used for weight loss. Naturally, it’s not our place to speculate on the bodies of other individuals, especially when we are looking through the lens of already-misogynistic media coverage that has spent decades tearing women’s bodies apart. Still, when there’s a clear trend spreading across the whole of Hollywood, it becomes impossible to ignore, especially given the impact that it has on young people.

These drugs did not originate as a solution for weight loss. They are typically recommended for specific medical usage. Ozempic, for example, is used to treat Type 2 diabetes and prevent cardiovascular-related deaths. But this is certainly different to the use that we see in Hollywood. Eli Lilly, the producer of Mounjaro, advertised prominently during TV coverage of the 2025 Golden Globes, showing the company’s wish to associate itself with celebrity culture. The event’s host, comedian Nikki Glaser, even labelled the evening “Ozempic’s biggest night” in the first line of her opening monologue. Looking at this event, and many others, it’s clear that a weight-loss epidemic is spreading across the red carpet. 

This is problematic from several stances. In the words of activist and actress Jameela Jamil, it’s “perpetuating eating disorder culture”. Celebrities, who seemed to be at a healthy weight already, are now losing weight at a rapid pace. This is sending a damaging message to their audiences, which is only exacerbated when celebrities claim that they’re at their healthiest, even more so when they claim it’s natural rather than weight-loss drugs.

That’s not to say that these individuals aren’t experiencing their own unhealthy attitudes around body image. The celebrity world has always been tough on appearances, and so this new drug is seemingly spreading like wildfire in the hope that it’s the miracle solution. Still, celebrities undeniably have great influence on the masses, and so their advocacy for weight-loss medication inevitably preys on the insecurities of ordinary people.

Moving away from the red carpet and into the world of social media, we quite literally have a subset of TikTok called “Skinny Tok”. Feeds are filled with irresponsible ‘before and after’ physical transformations, unlimited discussions of calories, and praise of disordered eating disguised as “discipline”. It’s unsurprising that it’s such an uphill battle to be body-confident when the content we consume – whether on TV or social media – is now making us feel so inferior for just existing in an average, healthy human body. 

With editing tools now so widely available, and AI making them all the easier to use, we’re no longer striving to look human. We’re trying to achieve the unachievable. It’s no wonder that we’re at a breaking point. From every angle, there’s an inundation of content telling us that we aren’t thin enough. The reality is that not everyone is built the same, and yet the media is telling us that there’s only one “correct” way to look.

Moreover, this resurgence of skinny culture is making us redefine what truly is a healthy weight. Stomach rolls are a normal thing, but now they appear as a novelty when we see them on social media. Somehow, this unfiltered presentation of the human body is considered ‘brave’ despite it being a common physical trait within the population. Our desire for perfection is leading us to censor our own bodies, editing and deleting photos as we strive for a figure which is completely unattainable. 

This regression towards an unhealthy obsession with weight also allows people to hide behind their username and attack others. We’ve reached a point where anything other than stick-thin is so ‘irregular’ that trolls feel the need to comment. It’s virtually impossible to be confident anymore with people constantly willing to tear each other down. It feels like there’s no way out.

However, there is also a rise in people who are trying to make a difference online, many of whom have been victims of eating disorder culture themselves. If you’re on the right side of the internet, you can fill your feed with stomach rolls, human bodies and realistic, unfiltered videos. Training your algorithm to fill your social media with more positive content does help you to become more confident, and something I would recommend to anyone struggling with low self-esteem.

I haven’t much more to add, except for the true anger and injustice I feel for all young people across the globe subjected to these unhealthy and unrealistic standards. We’ve reached a breaking point that we’re ready to bounce back from. There is no one person in charge of these beauty standards, but rather a finely attuned, misogynistic system fuelled by algorithms and businesses who profit from  insecurities. Whilst we cannot change the world overnight, we can change our own perceptions and attitudes by controlling what we consume and what we identify as perpetuating these problematic norms. No longer should we sacrifice our confidence for any beauty standards – realistic or not.

If  you are struggling with any of the issues mentioned in this article, do not be afraid to reach out for help. You can speak to your college nurse or the University Counselling service. For medical help, contact your GP or NHS 111.

The charity Beat Eating Disorders also offers a free helpline which is available from 3pm to 8pm Monday-Friday.