For decades, women have heard about the mythical “summer body” — toned arms, ripped abs, no cellulite. Some people also call this narrow goal “bathing suit ready,” or talk about having a “beach body.” In the months leading up to the highly anticipated season, the pressure to fit this arbitrary mold, whether through gym advertisements or the latest diet fad, felt enormous. Getting in shape was a prerequisite to enjoying warm weather or going on vacation — or else risk being body-shamed.
The 2010s saw brands and the media challenge this expectation, from body-positive ad campaigns to Sports Illustrated’s swimwear issue. More recently, though, it feels like that messaging has gotten lost in our current fitness and wellness boom, aided by the introduction of GLP-1 drugs that encourage weight loss, like Ozempic and Wegovy. Nowadays, being fit isn’t relegated to a few months of the year.
From viral challenges like 75 Hard to workout methods like “4-2-1,” social media is cluttered with routines and time-efficient hacks to lose weight throughout the year, with a new trend going viral seemingly every month. Even during the cold months, we’re encouraged to do some productive version of hibernating, preparing our bodies to be seen in the warmer seasons. Plus, since the pandemic, fitness has just become a larger part of social life. From running clubs to Pilates classes, health and wellness have become opportunities to make connections and hang out with friends. Social media is evermore flooded with wellness content, including the Make America Healthy Again movement, which isn’t only focused on weight loss but has certainly changed discussions about health. That’s not to mention weight-loss hacks disguised in wellness language, such as “gut cleanses” and “detoxes.”
