The relentless cycle of trends extends beyond music and fashion, impacting perceptions of the human body. What was once considered fashionable can quickly become outdated, leaving individuals feeling pressured to conform to ever-changing ideals.While participation in most trends is a matter of choice,body trends impose a different kind of pressure,dictating what is considered “in” or “out” at any given moment.

Gaby Whisler, a senior sports media major, has observed these shifts firsthand. Growing up in the 2000s… the main culture was to be as skinny as possible, Whisler said. She noted a shift toward body neutrality and body positivity during high school and early college years, which she believes made a lot of people feel accepted in their own skin. However, Whisler feels a return to the early 2000s mindset is underway.

This resurgence of early 2000s aesthetics is evident in the comeback of Y2K fashion staples like low-rise jeans and microskirts. Speculation has also arisen regarding celebrities, such as Kim Kardashian, who rose to fame with a curvy figure, allegedly losing weight to align with current trends.

Junior classics major Abby Ruble attributes the renewed focus on thinness to the increased accessibility of GLP-1s, particularly Ozempic, medications designed to lower blood sugar and promote weight loss. Ruble stated, A few years ago, there was a very large trend of ‘all bodies are beautiful.’ There were plus-size models, and everybody was like, ‘Having hips and being big is grate.’ And then Ozempic came out.

While appetite suppressants are not new, Ozempic has garnered notable media attention as its active ingredient was approved for weight loss in 2021. Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have played a role in amplifying these trends. The platform hosts content ranging from subtly toxic “What I Eat in a Day” videos to overtly harmful “body checking.” Some influencers have gained popularity by sharing tips on how to achieve and maintain extreme thinness, while fitness accounts frequently enough promote obsessive calorie tracking.

Whisler also pointed out that men are not immune to body image pressures. With men in our generation, there is a big emphasis on gym culture and building muscle, Whisler said. You have to hit the gym every day and eat 200 grams of protein. It makes you think you are doing everything wrong if you are not doing exactly what thay say.

Beyond weight, body standards encompass a wide range of attributes, including facial features and skin tones. Social media can contribute to unrealistic expectations by dissecting celebrity photos for signs of cosmetic procedures and promoting trendy surgeries as solutions to life’s problems.

Avery Terry, a sophomore history and german double major, believes the prevalence of plastic surgery is leading to a homogenization of appearances. In the 90s and early 2000s, if you watch romcoms, everyone has a really unique face, but now, everyone has the same veneers and [has gotten] buccal fat removal, Terry said. Everyone [has started] to look similar.

In response to these pressures, a movement known as body neutrality has emerged.rather than focusing on self-love or self-hatred, body neutrality suggests that physical appearance is the least vital aspect of a person. Rather of fixating on how a body looks, the focus shifts to what it can do.

Ruble is a strong proponent of body neutrality. You are more than your body, Ruble said. You are also your personality. You are your friends. you are your connections. You are what you love. You are your hobbies. You are so much more than the physical space you take up.

The relentless pursuit of an “ideal” body type is a recurring theme throughout history. from the voluptuous figures celebrated in Renaissance art to the waifish looks of the 1990s, societal standards of beauty are constantly in flux. This creates a challenging habitat for individuals striving for self-acceptance, as they are bombarded with ever-changing and often unattainable ideals.

The body positivity movement of the 2010s aimed to counter these pressures by promoting self-love and acceptance of diverse body types. Though, even during this period, certain preferences persisted, such as the emphasis on small waists and large buttocks. Now, in the 2020s, a renewed focus on slimness is taking hold, fueled by social media and the increasing availability of medications like Ozempic.

Gaby Whisler, a senior sports media major, has observed these shifts firsthand. Growing up in the 2000s… the main culture was to be as skinny as possible, Whisler said. She noted a shift toward body neutrality and body positivity during high school and early college years, which she believes made a lot of people feel accepted in their own skin. Though, Whisler feels a return to the early 2000s mindset is underway.

This resurgence of early 2000s aesthetics is evident in the comeback of Y2K fashion staples like low-rise jeans and microskirts. Speculation has also arisen regarding celebrities, such as Kim Kardashian, who rose to fame with a curvy figure, allegedly losing weight to align with current trends.

Whisler also pointed out that men are not immune to body image pressures. With men in our generation, there is a big emphasis on gym culture and building muscle, Whisler said. You have to hit the gym every day and eat 200 grams of protein. It makes you think you are doing everything wrong if you are not doing exactly what they say.

Beyond weight,body standards encompass a wide range of attributes,including facial features and skin tones. Social media can contribute to unrealistic expectations by dissecting celebrity photos for signs of cosmetic procedures and promoting trendy surgeries as solutions to life’s problems.

Avery Terry, a sophomore history and german double major, believes the prevalence of plastic surgery is leading to a homogenization of appearances. In the 90s and early 2000s, if you watch romcoms, everyone has a really unique face, but now, everyone has the same veneers and [has gotten] buccal fat removal, Terry said. Everyone [has started] to look similar.