Students who strive to stay fit for fashion do so at their own risk.
Fashion portrays a healthy image in two ways. While health magazines promote healthy eating and exercise habits, some fashion magazines have yet to disengage from the “waif” appeal of certain featured models.
These two different images can promote two very different lifestyles among those who wish to stay in fashion.
For some people, exercise can turn into an addiction. According to a recent study at the George Warren Brown School of social work at Washington University in St. Louis, symptoms of exercise dependence are common among college-age adults and significantly higher in college-age women.
While normally associated with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, exercise dependence can be a serious condition on its own.
Dietetics senior Katie Heiter studies nutrition and health problems in her classes. She exercises on a regular basis to remain healthy, but she said she could see how others might be pressured to exercise for different reasons.
“Pressure from magazines and television can make people want to be thin,” Heiter said. “I think some people do work out to fit in designer jeans, but designer jeans don’t come in a size 10 or 12. The largest they come are 6 and 8.”
Business sophomore Rachel Hebert said obesity studies and promotions against American obesity has a lot to do with students’ eating habits and exercise obsessions.
“Every time I turn on the TV there is a documentary on how fat we all are,” Hebert said. “I know girls who are more afraid of becoming overweight than failing their next exam.”
Wellness Education Department dietician Autumn Douglas said students can remain fashionable without resorting to unhealthy eating or exercise habits.
“People come in all shapes and sizes,” Douglas said. “In order to be fashionable, people should wear clothes that coincide with current trends but also flatter their own figures.”
Staying fashionable does not mean students should strive to look like models, Douglas said. Fashion is an attitude.
“I know people who are larger than me, but still look better because they know how to dress,” Douglas said. “They can look nice and confident even though they are a couple sizes larger than what is considered fashionably acceptable.”
Despite negative consequences worshipping the fashion world may have, if students keep positive body images and set moderate goals, finding positive results will be easy. Douglas gave tips on how to eat moderately and exercise properly.
“Striving to consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day can provide vitamins and minerals for healthy skin, hair and nails,” Douglas said. “A regular exercise program of cardiovascular activity three to five times per week along with resistance training two to three times per week may help individuals keep a healthy shape and promote prevention of muscle breakdown.”