Health Conscious or Health Obsessed?
Delving Deeper into Vancouver’s Fitness Culture
Living in Vancouver, there is certainly a presence of gym goers, devoted yogis, joggers, and cyclists. Having such mild weather and beautiful scenery to gaze at makes outdoor activity much less daunting and enjoyable. On a darker note, I often wonder how the label of Vancouver as “health conscious” has provoked middle-aged women to alter their lifestyle to fit this mold and in doing so, created an obsession for routine exercise and strict food intake.
We are all attune to the high rates of eating disorders among girls and college aged women. Pencil thin models that grace our magazines and Barbie dolls that depict idealistic body images devour the female psyche. Women at a young age feel pressure to fit this unattainable image of beauty, while also being bombarded with so many choices of foods. It is a confusing picture. But what about middle aged women? They are not as easily fooled by media’s subliminal messages. They are far removed from high school’s insular world of conformity and competition. Or are they? Has our society placed too much pressure on middle-aged women to live an ultra healthy lifestyle and maintain a body devoid of cellulite and loose skin?
The statistics reveal that middle- aged women are suffering as well. A study in Australia found that regular episodes of binging occurred 18.5% among 35-44 year old women, 21.2% reported purging, and 17.1% reported restrictive dieting and fasting. Among women aged 45-54 years, the numbers were 17.4%, 28.6% and 21.4% respectively. I find these numbers concerning. Women are having families and holding important professions while feeling pressure to be thinner and more youthful. In a separate Australian study, women aged 35-65 years who placed higher importance on appearance showed higher rates of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Images of middle aged celebrities who have perfectly sculpted figures and sag-free skin would only alleviate a women’s body dissatisfaction. How can a woman compete with someone who has a personal trainer, a personal stylist and a live in nanny? They cannot and yet they feel pulled to obtain such ‘perfection.’
On a local perspective, middle -aged women in Vancouver are subjected not only to media’s unrealistic age-defying philosophy but as well they are observers to a population of toned bodies and conscious eaters. I think Vancouver’s high rate of fitness is a positive movement, however, I wonder how many middle aged women are engaging in obsessive routines of exercise and calorie counting. We as a society can choose to celebrate a woman’s strength, wisdom and diversity over the trivial achievements of losing cellulite.
References:
Hay, P.J., Mond, J., Buttner, P., & Darby, A. (2008). Eating disorder behaviors are increasing: Findings from two sequential community surveys in South Australia. PLOS ONE, 3 (2), e1541. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001541
McLean, S., Paxton, S., & Wertheim, E. (2010). Factors associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in women in midlife. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 43(6), 527-536. DOI: 10.1002/eat.20737
