Muscle dysmorphia

Why banning gym selfies could do us all a lot of good

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

It’s easy to see why taking selfies could be considered inappropriate in such cases.

Key Points: 
  • It’s easy to see why taking selfies could be considered inappropriate in such cases.
  • When considered alongside a rise in toxic influencer culture and widespread body-image insecurity, it could be argued banning gym selfies is a positive step.

Self-obsession in the digital age

  • One of the most famous Greek myths is that of Narcissus, who gave us the word “narcissist”.
  • This is the tale of a young man captivated by his own image.
  • Yet research shows narcissism is not only very prevalent in the modern age, in many cases it’s lucratively rewarded.

Gyms push back against selfies

  • Gym selfies can be tied particularly closely to influencer culture.
  • Influencers posting gym selfies will typically gain a lot of views and likes, and in some cases may attract mass followings.
  • Research shows gym selfies can also influence people’s motivations for exercising.
  • Study participants reported becoming more conscious of their own bodies when they saw gym selfies online.

Self-care in the social media age

  • And social media are a potent driver of the latter.
  • This promotes an obsession with self-image and pushes us to reach social media-worthy levels of muscularity or leanness.
  • Research shows adolescents in particular can have negative mental health outcomes as a result of self-image comparisons on social media.

Exercising for ourselves

  • At the same time, these individuals wield significant power within communities (both online and offline) and have an opportunity to shape norms around fitness and body image.
  • It might just be the beginning of people exercising for themselves and nobody else.


Samuel Cornell receives funding from Meta Platforms, Inc. His research is also supported by a UNSW University Postgraduate Award funded by the Australian Government. Timothy Piatkowski is a Lecturer and Researcher at Griffith University. He is also affiliated with Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action.

Why Heartstopper is Gen Z’s defining publishing phenomenon

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

To every generation a publishing phenomenon is born – and for Generation Z, it’s Heartstopper, which Oseman started writing aged 22 (she’s still just 29).

Key Points: 
  • To every generation a publishing phenomenon is born – and for Generation Z, it’s Heartstopper, which Oseman started writing aged 22 (she’s still just 29).
  • The rise of Heartstopper reads like a history of the last ten years in publishing tools and platforms.
  • Hachette Children’s Group picked up world rights for the series, publishing Volume One in 2019.
  • Heartstopper follows the sweet friends-to-lovers arc of Charlie and Nick, whom we first meet in Year 10 and Year 11.
  • It depicts the giddying highs and dizzying lows of being young, queer and in love.

Queer joy


Queer joy is defined by Oxfam as a positive feeling we get from encountering signs of progress in gender equality and gender diversity. In the Heartstopper series, the narrative engine runs on themes of love, identity, first times, self-discovery, friendship and allyship.

  • He mentions past bullying and there are moments of homophobia, but largely Charlie is accepted at school.
  • Charlie’s friend Elle has transitioned their gender and has been enrolled into the girls’ school across the road.
  • The shadow side of the themes of love, connection and community includes mental ill-health, body dysmorphia, trauma, family conflict and bullying.
  • Read more:
    Heartstopper depicts queer joy - here's why that can bring about complicated feelings for those in the LGBTIQ community

‘Felt gaps’: the magic of comics

  • In 1953, in his book Seduction of the Innocent, Frederic Wertham argued comics inhibit literacy, and called them “death on reading”.
  • Comics and graphic novels are, for some kids at least, the gateway to a passion for books.
  • Some of the magic of comics occurs in the gutter: the space between panels.
  • Because comics can show and tell two things at once, they are particularly good at representing the way identities are formed in relation to society and culture.
  • An examination of Google trends from 2004 to 2023 highlights a steep rise in queries about sexuality, with such searches surging over 1,300%.

Heartstopper Volume 5


By Heartstopper Volume 5, Nick is out to family and friends and Charlie is home and in therapy, but generally well. Charlie and Nick are in an established relationship, thinking about taking things to the next level.

  • (We’ll have to read Volume 6 to find out if he’s successful!)
  • Heartstopper Volume 5 focuses a lot on Nick who, as a final-year student, needs to make a decision about university.
  • The conversations demonstrate nuances of active consent and communication, and stand in stark contrast to Ben’s entitlement and aggression in Volume 1.

Normalising queer love

  • In Heartstopper, the representations of mental illness, trans identities and queer love are destigmatising and normalising.
  • Charlie’s queer and quirky friendship group reminds me of the young people who trail in and out of my house on a regular basis.
  • (My oldest daughter ran the queer club at her school, my middle child is non-binary.)
  • Oseman uses the comic form to alleviate the intensity, avoiding details about self-harm and restrictive eating, and never showing anything graphic.
  • For me, though, this is the queer joy of reading Heartstopper.
  • In its focus on the love and community that surrounds Charlie and Nick, the Heartstopper graphic novels create a space for the reader, who becomes an intimate confidante – another member of Charlie and Nick’s tight-knit friendship group.


Penni Russon does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Botox and fillers to come under greater scrutiny by the medical regulator. Will it be too little too late?

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 6, 2023

As the agency responsible for registering, accrediting and disciplining health practitioners, AHPRA is well placed to reshape conduct in what sociologists once called the appearance industry.

Key Points: 
  • As the agency responsible for registering, accrediting and disciplining health practitioners, AHPRA is well placed to reshape conduct in what sociologists once called the appearance industry.
  • It plans to develop stricter guidelines for non-surgical cosmetic procedures – especially advertising practices, consent procedures and pre-procedure suitability screening.

Safe and effective … in skilled hands

    • Among them is the most common cosmetic procedure in the world: botulinum toxin type A, commonly known as Botox.
    • Widely used to reduce wrinkles, Botox is also the most potent neurotoxin ever discovered and was first proposed as a chemical weapon.
    • Research demonstrates it is safe and effective for cosmetic purposes.

Body image: a hidden source of harm

    • As AHPRA acknowledges, a different kind of risk is presented by the connection between Botox and body image disorders.
    • One recent study found recipients of Botox reported fewer body dysmorphic symptoms than a control group.
    • Others have shown patients with histories of body image distress tend to express dissatisfaction with cosmetic procedures and their mental health may worsen after treatment.

Vulnerable patients and the media

    • While some doctors may seek to capitalise on insecurity, other promotions might normalise interventions and understate the risks.
    • COVID lockdowns and the closure of clinics reportedly increased stress for patients seeking cosmetic procedures.
    • AHPRA proposes to address these issues by reformulating the guidelines for advertising, introducing stricter rules to control “before and after” images, social media influencing and reinforcing the ban on testimonials for health services.

A long time coming

    • The report followed widely reported cases of poor cosmetic surgery practices resulting in terrible patient outcomes.
    • As a result, the medical regulator created new advertising guidelines and a cosmetic surgery hub for complaints.
    • Read more:
      Doctors may soon get official 'endorsements' to practise cosmetic surgery – but will that protect patients?

Regulating modern cosmetics: it’s complicated

    • While AHPRA and its national boards regulate health practitioners and the advertising of health services, other agencies co-regulate.
    • And while AHPRA deals with the advertising of health services, the TGA will prosecute some advertising breaches while Australian Consumer Law will control others.

Mind the gaps

    • Still, state laws will make the unauthorised use of schedule 4 drugs an offence in each jurisdiction.
    • While it is too early to tell if the proposed reforms will improve patient outcomes dramatically, reforms like this play a critical role in setting standards and clarifying patient expectations.

Extreme Hollywood body transformations have become standard preparations for film actors – but we need to consider the consequences

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 20, 2023

“…when you’re shooting a film like Magic Mike, and you’re doing dance routines for two weeks at a time, you have to peak every day.

Key Points: 
  • “…when you’re shooting a film like Magic Mike, and you’re doing dance routines for two weeks at a time, you have to peak every day.
  • We had a gym in the parking lot, and we’d all be lifting weights on set all day,” explained actor Joe Manganiello, about performing in the film Magic Mike.
  • It is not unusual for actors to undergo drastic changes in preparation for a role, including gaining muscle and losing body fat for that shredded look.

So how do they do it?

    • Nevertheless, these Hollywood workouts are highly popular with ordinary people, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Chris Hemsworth’s workouts particularly sought after.
    • Actors of all genders are undergoing these body transformations for various roles such as superheroes, athletes, or the portrayal of real-life people.

What are the consequences?

    • So, I’d prefer not to die,” said Christian Bale, who has undertaken multiple extreme transformations for roles.
    • A concern for the bodybuilding community is the widespread use of drugs, often multiple drugs at a time not obtained through prescription.
    • We are not sure exactly why exercise dependence happens, but it could potentially be a form of behavioural addiction.

What about the dieting impacts?

    • Both are characterised by restrictive diets, high levels of exercise, potential social isolation, and adherence to a rigid schedule.
    • This research showed that people who are experiencing starvation for a period of time will experience devastating impacts in the physical, psychological, behavioural and social aspects of their lives.
    • Concerningly, even once a person is renourished, the psychological issues around body size and food can persist.

What are the impacts on the general public?

    • So seeing actors doing this seemingly easily with the assistance of their professional teams sets an unrealistic standard.
    • These body modifications are definitely a case of “do not try this at home”.
    • There are many risks when undertaking dramatic body modifications, most of which are not talked about in public.

DOVE TAKES ACTION AGAINST ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS TO KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH TODAY

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Over 8 in 10 youth mental health specialists say social media is fuelling a mental health crisis among young people.

Key Points: 
  • Over 8 in 10 youth mental health specialists say social media is fuelling a mental health crisis among young people.
  • Alongside singer/songwriter Self Esteem, Dove is partnering with Parenting Mental Health, Global Action Plan, 5Rights, Girlguiding to take action to support young people's mental health.
  • Dove is bringing together NGO partners Parenting Mental Health, Global Action Plan, 5Rights, and Girlguiding to provide access to mental health resources for young people, and work to make social media safer for kids.
  • The new 2023 Dove Self-Esteem Project Research for Kids Online Safety found:
    Over 8 in 10 youth mental health specialists say social media is fuelling a mental health crisis among young people.

Beauty ideals were as tough in the middle ages as they are now

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 1, 2023

The irrepressible 64-year-old instantly hit back, saying:

Key Points: 
  • The irrepressible 64-year-old instantly hit back, saying:
    Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in.
  • I look forward to many more years of subversive behaviour pushing boundaries.
  • Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in.
  • Janega explores medieval gender norms to consider the ways that women’s roles have – and haven’t – changed.

Weaponising beauty

    • I’ve recently been examining a type of weaponised beauty that some religious women in the middle ages appeared to practise to emphasise the more superior beauty of their inner selves.
    • In BBC Radio Wales’s The Idea, I explored how some medieval saints subverted standards of “traditional” female beauty to avoid living lives that would hinder their chastity and spiritual goals: in other words, taint the beauty of their souls.
    • Horrified at the loss of her beauty the suitor rejected her, and her furious father ordered that she be crucified.
    • Wilgefortis prays for deformity and God bestows her with the facial hair that repulses her suitor and secures the beauty of her soul.

Eternal beauty?

    • As in the medieval past, women today negotiate the parameters of beauty in which they have been historically confined, embracing change and letting their souls spill out as they decide what beauty means for them and their bodies.
    • The pursuit of youth and beauty – and beauty within – is rarely without pain, but as we know, that makes for a powerful weapon.

VIRAL 'COST OF BEAUTY' FILM FROM DOVE SHOWS IMPACT SOCIAL MEDIA CAN HAVE ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 27, 2023

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., April 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dove Self-Esteem Project has released Cost of Beauty – a powerful new film illustrating the impact toxic beauty content on social media can have on youth mental health. The film – which has now been viewed more than 19 million times – was inspired by real stories of young people and NEW research from the Dove Self-Esteem Project, which shows1:

Key Points: 
  • My hope is that social media can become a safe space for kids and teens to express themselves creatively and positively."
  • While certain aspects of social media can promote creativity and connection for young people, data has shown toxic content online is harming the mental health of today's youth.
  • "We have a responsibility to act and support a safer environment on social media, helping protect young people's mental health.
  • Along with its non-profit partners, Common Sense Media and ParentsTogether Action , the Dove Self-Esteem Project is taking a stand against the harmful impact of social media.

THE DOVE SELF-ESTEEM PROJECT CALLS FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CAUSED BY SOCIAL MEDIA

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 26, 2023

TORONTO, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, the Dove Self-Esteem Project announces new actions to address the current rise in youth mental health issues linked to social media use.

Key Points: 
  • TORONTO, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, the Dove Self-Esteem Project announces new actions to address the current rise in youth mental health issues linked to social media use.
  • In fact, NEW 2023 Dove Self-Esteem Project Research shows 8 in 10 youth mental health specialists say social media is fueling a mental health crisis.
  • While certain aspects of social media can promote creativity and connection for young people, data has shown toxic content online is harming the mental health of today's youth.
  • "We have a responsibility to act and support a safer environment on social media, helping protect young people's mental health.

AS AMERICANS RETURN TO THE OFFICE, AAFPRS UNVEILS AESTHETIC TRENDS FROM ANNUAL FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY SURVEY

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 13, 2023

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) , the world's largest association of facial plastic surgeons, today released its 2022 member survey outcomes .

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) , the world's largest association of facial plastic surgeons, today released its 2022 member survey outcomes .
  • With in-person work, events and socializing moving towards a return to pre-pandemic levels, 2022, like 2021, saw an increase in demand for facial plastic surgery and cosmetic treatments.
  • It is still no surprise that women continue to reign when it comes to undergoing facial plastic surgery.
  • The 2022 AAFPRS annual member survey was conducted in December 2022 by ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. through an online survey from a select group of the organization's 2,200 members.