ICYMI, determining someone’s health by checking their body mass index is … well, not it. For decades, BMI was used as a major indicator of one’s health. But recently, the American Medical Association decided to adopt a new policy on BMI because it doesn’t account for differences across race, gender, age and other demographics. Further, … Read more
Have you ever gotten ready for a night out and been happy with what you saw in the mirror, only to be disheartened by a photo taken of you shortly thereafter? Unflattering pictures have a way of shaking your confidence. A simple analogy — courtesy of Bay Area cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Samantha Ellis — may … Read more
Both Busler and Garcia know what it’s like for emetophobia to disrupt their routines—for example, both have avoided restaurants and potlucks, favoring food they prepare themselves, and they prefer not to eat foods they associate with sickness, like seafood. Busler, who works in a school, says her fear has interfered with her work, too. If … Read more
Not a single insecurity we’ve ever had about our bodies has been by accident. As far back as the 1950s, advertising brought tiny waists into fashion, a beauty standard that would endure through the “heroin chic” era of the 2000s, in which tabloids dissected celebrities’ bodies with increasingly rigorous standards and new terminology for so-called … Read more
In otherwise healthy people, Dr. Cheesman says cortisol levels are “usually under tight control by an organ in your brain called the pituitary gland,” which sends a signal to your adrenal glands when you experience any type of stress or when you wake up in the morning. It’s possible for cortisol to be too high … Read more
For children looking to approach their parent about this behavior, Markey recommends starting with questions, not accusations. “A child could ask their mom why they are editing the image,” she says. “They could ask what would be wrong with just leaving an image unedited. They could ask to discuss with them what images they post … Read more
Love it or hate it, it looks like shapewear is here to stay. Like the corsets of yore, today’s shapewear is meant to smooth out the body, giving the wearer a more lifted, cinched-in silhouette. Celebrities who’ve posted behind-the-scenes Spanx selfies include Katy Perry, Padma Lakshmi, Karlie Kloss and Chrissy Teigen. The compression and shapewear … Read more
Sarah Jessica Parker is taking steps to encourage her kids to have a “healthier relationship” with food and nutrition than she did when she was growing up. Appearing on the “Ruthie’s Table 4” podcast this week, the “Sex and the City” actor said she doesn’t set strict rules about the amount of sugar her 14-year-old … Read more
As a general rule, phrases that offend groups of people are off limits in any respectful and caring group of people. Words that bring down folks in certain demographics have evolved into things that are just not OK to say, even as a joke. But that doesn’t seem to apply as much to fat-shaming. Many … Read more
