the body image report 2015

1

The Body Image ReportJanuary 2015

© 2015 Kaila Prins!inmyskinnygenes.com

http://inmyskinnygenes.com

FoodHow you eat, how you ate, & how you wish you were eating

2

The body is a miraculous thing.

Executive SummaryIntroduction

Besides the fact that we’re made up of millions of tiny moving parts that do a full update every seven years or so, besides the fact that we can break and heal ourselves—surviving hundreds of daily micro-tears and many major traumatic events—besides the fact that we can shrink and grow and feel and hurt and experience...our bodies are home for our minds. Which (as you’ll see given the results of the following survey) can be a blessing and a curse.

As a health coach and recovered anorexic/EDNOS and exercise addict, I am fascinated by the disconnect between our minds and bodies—and how we choose to express that disconnect through our food, fitness, and health tracking.

I created this survey to take the (informal) pulse of the “body image industry:” who is dieting, who is overexercising, who is obsessing about his or her health—and why?

The stats are really fascinating, but it was the anonymous free-form answers that were the most telling. I’ve included some of the more poignant ones in the report so you can see what I mean.

One of my favorite takeaways from this whole survey came up while reading the answers to the final two questions: “What is one thing you would like to change about your life?” and “What are you grateful for right now?”

After running some cross-tabs, it became apparent that folks under the age of 35 were more likely to wish changes upon their bodies or share detailed grievances about their lives—whereas those over the age of 35 seemed to be more willing to share what they were grateful for, including their bodies. It’s kind of a rough correlation, since the answers were fill-in-the-blank, but what I got out of it is this: with age comes perspective. And with perspective comes a little bit of peace.

With this in mind, no matter what your age, what your body looks like, what your life situation is in this moment, maybe we can channel some of that perspective and focus instead on the things about our bodies and our lives for which we are grateful—there’s no need to wait until tomorrow to start loving yourself today.

Stay hungry,

Kaila Prins

@MissSkinnyGenes


3

You don’t have to have an eating disorder to have a bad relationship with your food, your fitness, and your body…

Executive SummaryWhat is a Disordered Eater?

…at least, that seems to be the overwhelming message of a recent informal survey run from November to December of 2014. !In this survey, over 350 participants from around the world, the majority caucasian women from English-speaking countries, confidentially shared their experience of embodiment in the age of orthorexia and exercise addiction, obesity and fat shaming, and internet-fueled nutrition and health debates. !While 39% of the respondents had, at one time, been clinically diagnosed with an eating disorder, almost half of the respondents self-reported that they believed themselves to be “disordered eaters.” !What makes an eater “disordered?” And how does the way we understand and enact nutrition and exercise affect the relationship we have with our bodies?

!This report attempts to shed light on the connection between our food, fitness, and health-

monitoring habits and our ability to make peace with our bodies and lives.

4

DemographicsWho took the survey?


Female MaleAges (%)

0

10

20

30

40

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74

Over 350 people from around the world participated in the survey. Here is the breakdown of the respondents:

5


Caucasian African DescentNative American/Alaskan Native AsianMultiple Races Other

6

US

UK

Canada

Australia

Other

0 17.5 35 52.5 70 %

7



8

What is it about nutrition that makes us all so crazy? Only 20% of respondents to this survey said that they eat whatever or however they want—which means that 80% put a label on their way of eating or follow the general rules of a diet. !For many, any sort of restriction is maddening—but they are motivated to follow their eating plans by everything from ethics to general health to disease management…and the majority are motivated at least in part by the desire to lose or maintain a low weight. !When asked about weight loss, almost 90% said they had dieted for weight loss in the past—with 31% admitting to being on a diet all the time and 8% feeling restricted and controlled by their diets. !

The following section explores the reasons we choose to eat how we eat—and the effects that those choices have on our feelings about our bodies.


9

Gluten-Free

Dairy-Free

Paleo

Primal

Low-Carb/LCHF

Vegan

Vegetarian

Clean

Weight Watchers

However I want

Other

0 7.5 15 22.5 30

How You Eat:

%


10

Those who selected “other” eat this way:


11

Why We Select Our Diets

3%

Why do people choose to eat the way they eat? And what does nutrition have to do with “health” when there are other factors (like ethics and disease) that color our decision-making?

people overall say they use their way of eating to support their fitness/sport

of choice

22% 70%vegan/vegetarians who chose

their diet for overall health

48% 2%

4% 22%

paleo/primal eaters who chose their diet for overall

health

vegan/vegetarians who chose their diet for ethical reasons

paleo/primal eaters who chose their diet for ethical

reasons

vegan/vegetarians who chose their diet for specific health

problems

paleo/primal eaters who chose their diet for specific

health problems

ONLY:


12

The Paleo Diet and Dieting:

53%

27%

36% 29%

Per Google, “Paleo” was the most searched diet in 2013 AND 2014–and it’s still exploding as a “way of eating” for many health-conscious and weight-conscious and disease-conscious folks across the world. Here’s a quick breakdown of stats based on people who selected “Paleo,” or “Primal” (Paleo+Dairy) as their diet of choice.

used to be vegan or vegetarian

feel restricted in their food choices

have used the Whole30 specifically for weight loss

say they still diet for weight loss all the time

27%

30%have eaten Paleo or Primal

for one year or less

have adapted a meal plan for everyday use


13

Cheater Cheater!

25%

10% people overall who feel like

they’re always cheatingclean eaters who always feel

like they’re cheating

27% Wrap your head around this…

of people who said that they eat whatever and however they want…feel like they’re cheating on their diet.!

It’s an interesting commentary on the state of our culture when people who are eating what they want feel guilty for doing so! people overall who want to

cheat on their diets

17%

4% vegans who want to cheat on

their diets

8% people feel out of control, !like their diets rule their

lives!

I’m afraid if I don’t count calories then I’ll lose control

of my food intake. Female, 65-74

I place a bit too much importance on my diet, which

doesn’t align with what I value in life. Female, 25-34

I dream about bread. All the time. At least I get to eat it in

my sleep. Female, 45-54

I like this way of eating; I feel more in control than ever but

wish it was helping my biomarkers more.

Female, 55-64


14

Which Health Problems Are We Trying to Solve with Diet?

For many “health-conscious” folks, nutrition is its own form of medicine. Many people look to the supermarket before the pharmacy–and believe that their way of eating will be more powerful than any pill. Here is a breakdown of how people are healing their bodies with food:

Mental Diseases

Physical Diseases

Depression

Anxiety Disorders

Eating Disorders

21% 24% 18%

Diabetes Type II

Multiple Sclerosis

Acne, PCOS, Endometriosis

IBS & Gut Disorders

Celiac & Gluten Sensitivity

Other Autoimmune Disease

2% 2%

22% 31% 49% 14%


15

Yes

No

I adapt a meal plan

0 20 40 60 80

Meal Planning An overwhelming majority of people say that they don’t follow a meal plan. This is surprising, given the number of people on the internet making full-time salaries selling cookbooks and meal plans, as well as the number of people who reach out and ask for a template to show them how to eat. !Just under a quarter do admit to adapting a meal plan, however.

%


16

88% of respondents have dieted to lose weight


17

How Often We Are on a Diet

0

10

20

30

40

Once a Year Once Every Couple of Weeks Once Every 3-4 Months All the Time Other%

Zero people selected “I no longer diet.”


18

Atkins

Whole30

Sugar Detox

Weight Watchers

South Beach

Jenny Craig

Nutrisystem

Zone

Juice Cleanse

Master Cleanse

Other

0 15 30 45 60

Here are some of the ways we’ve restricted ourselves for weight loss:


19

Those who selected “other” dieted this way:

9people listed Anorexia, Bulimia, Restricting, or Fasting as their

weight loss diet

20

FitnessHow you exercise, why you exercise, & how often you exercise

21

Is there more to our love of fitness than being “fit?”!!We can all agree that exercise can be a wonderful way to supplement your health…but what happens when we take exercise to dangerous extremes? !!While many who took the survey said that they love (or at least tolerate!) their exercise routines, several respondents admitted that they exercise seven days a week or multiple times per day—and sometimes for multiple for hours during each section. !!Many respondents stated that they wished they could find a different form of exercise than the one they currently practice: some feel too constrained by the time they have to exercise, others feel they lack the skill sets to do their desired exercise, and still others just haven’t found the thing that makes them feel alive. !!26% are worried that if they change or stop their current form of exercise they will get fat or lose their performance level and 10% are exhausted, but keep exercising because they believe they have to. A worrying 5% feel out of control, like their exercise controls their lives. !!

In this section, we will look at how and why we push ourselves to work out as hard as we do.



22

Cardio (Gym)

HiiT (Gym)

Bodybuilding

Gentle Yoga

Power/Flow Yoga

Spin

Swim

0 10 20 30 40

How You Exercise:

43%

list walking as a preferred form of exercise 9

people who listed some form of dance as their preferred

activity

%

FitnessHow you eat, how you ate, & how you wish you were eating

23

Those of us who exercise, exercise a lot!

17% 18% 11%22%

3 times per week

5% 4%

Here’s how often we’re hitting our gyms of choice:

4 times per week 5 times per week 6 times per week

say they exercise every single day

admit to exercising multiple times per

day

Many chose “other” because their exercise habits are dependent upon their schedules.



24

And many of us can’t seem to stop once we get going!

12%28% 22%

43%

15-30 minutes

3% 4%31-45 minutes 46-60 minutes 61-90 minutes

say they exercise for more than 90

minutes

admit to exercising for multiple hours



25

I feel okay. I exercise & I like it most of the time

I feel okay. I exercise because I know I should.

I feel okay. I'd like to do a different form of exercise, but I don't have the time or skill level.

I like my form of exercise and the amount of time I spend doing it, and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

I wish I could find a form of exercise I liked more.

I feel scared that if I stop my form of exercise I will get fat or lose my performance level.

I feel tired all of the time, but I keep exercising because I feel like I have to.

I feel out of control of my exercise, like I can't stop even if I want to.

0 10 20 30 40

But how do we feel about all that exercise?

of people who say they like & wouldn’t change anything about their workout

exercise 7 days a week or multiple times per day

8% of people who say they like &

wouldn’t change anything about their workout exercise for 90 minutes or

multiple hours each day

8% &


%


26

Those who selected “other” felt this way about their exercise:


27

HealthWhat you measure, why you measure your body, & how often you measure your body

28

Can you measure health, and, if so, what should we be measuring? Biohacking is all the rage these days—even if you don’t know you’re doing it. From pedometers to calorie counters to blood tests and body fat tests of every shape and size, many of us have invested our time and hard-earned money into the endless pursuit of proving that we’re healthy. !!For many, there is an emotional investment too: biomarkers are more than just proof of health, they hold us “accountable” to sometimes unrealistic expectations about body weight and size. !!A quarter of respondents weigh themselves every day, and a fifth weigh and measure their food before they eat it. And with all of the advice in the world from personal trainers to bloggers to health professionals to the morning news—combined with the growing internet of things that allow us to track and quantify our every step—the number of people who “need” to know minute-to-minute fluctuations in body weight, size, and function will most likely grow in the coming years. !!In this section, we explore how and why we measure our fitness, our food, and our bodies.


HealthWhat you measure on your body, why you measure your body, & how often you measure your body


29

Are we slaves to the scale?

62%

people who weigh themselves

72%men who weigh

themselves


25%

people who weigh themselves every

day Everyday and multiple times a day. My mom is going to be

hiding it for me downstairs because I’m happy until I see

the number. Female, 18-24

I used to weigh myself several times a week, but I felt like it

was messing with my mind so I haven’t weighed myself

recently. Female, 25-34


30

Every step you take…

17%


Big Brother, Much?

of us wear a pedometer or fitness tracker


3126%


Big Brother, Much?

of us count calories

My calorie counter, my friend…


32

people who track their macros

20%


people who fast intermittently

23%people who time their

meals/macros (i.e. carb backloading)

4%

Paleo/Primal eaters who weigh/measure their

food

21%

people who weigh and measure their food

15%Vegan/Vegetarian eaters who weigh/measure their food

17%“Clean” eaters who weigh/measure their

food

23%


33


Biohacking takes a lot of work–and testing, testing, testing. But many people are willing to spend the time and money to learn what’s going on inside of their bodies:

Measuring Tape

Body Fat (Calipers)

Body Fat (Other)

DEXA scan

Bone Density

Hormone Panel

Thyroid Panel

Cholesterol

Adrenals

Genetic Testing

Glucose/Metabolism

0 12.5 25 37.5 50

19%

people who participate in regular body

composition or blood testing

%


34


Why We’re Testing

I feel fat, and somehow I know I am not, so I need someone else to take control or check

that out for me. Male, 18-24

When I had a trainer they made me.

Female, 18-24

Because I am insecure in who I am so I am looking for an

acceptance through my appearance and performance.

Male, 35-44

I used to take the measurements for weight loss obsession, now

I need to get blood tested regularly because I destroyed

my endocrine system. Female, 25-34

35

Body ImageHow you feel about your body

36

What do we really see reflected in the mirror? Our bodies are ourselves—but are they really? The number of people who seem disconnected from their bodies and disempowered by that fact is overwhelming. !!In fact, only 6% of respondents believe that their bodies are fine just as they are. !!Why this dissatisfaction? If we are all working so hard to eat “right” and exercise “enough,” shouldn’t we have found a happy place by now? !!The trouble for many is that they have not yet found the root cause of their fixation on food, fitness, and their bodies—which is not to say they haven’t tried. At least 53% have sought help through everything from talk therapy to health coaching to podcasts. Some found the methods extremely helpful, while others felt let down by their attempts. You can read some of the anonymous experiences of respondents throughout this portion of the report. !!

Is there an answer to our body image issues—and does anyone know why we’re even asking the question? Find out more in this section.



37

86% of respondents worry about their weight or body shape.


38

88%69%

women have worried about weight or body shape since:

men have worried about weight or body shape since:

Childhood

Adolescence

Teenage

College

Post-College

Recently

0 10 20 30 40

Childhood

Adolescence

Teenage

College

Post-College

Recently

0 10 20 30 40


39

65%

lose weight

What we want to change about our bodies:

38%

gain muscle

57%

get toned

45%

lean out

8%wish their bodies would

disappear

Only 6% think that they are fine as they are…


40

What we want to change about our bodies:

Be able to exercise without total exhaustion and pain flares.

Female, 35-44

“Disappear” is what I did want for many years when I had an active

eating disorder, but thankfully I do not have that right now (phew).

Female, 35-44

Hard to say — I love my shape now more than ever and am thrilled to feel the way I

do. But there’s always that nagging voice in the back of my head…still comparing

myself to women who are thinner/taller/have bigger boobs, etc. Overall, though, I’m

happier than I’ve ever been and for the very first time in my life, I think I look beautiful.

Female, 35-44

I’d also be ok if I knew I could stay as I am, always.

Female, 25-34


41

34%but 49% of all respondents

consider themselves disordered eaters

49%

Only 34% of respondents have been clinically diagnosed with

eating disorders…

and 40% of those who have NOT been diagnosed with an eating disorder still

consider themselves disordered!

40%


42

All in the Family?

Mom

Dad

Sister

Brother

Other Close Relative

Spouse

0 15 30 45 60

Here are the family members whose own preoccupation with their bodies or weight affected respondents.

%


43

Talk Therapy

CBT/DBT

Nutritionist/Dietitian

Health Coach

Personal Trainer

Yoga/Meditation

Self-Help

0 22.5 45 67.5 90

have sought help for body image issues

53%


44


45

What worked? What didn’t? People found the most support from therapy, support groups, yoga,

coaching, and working through the root cause of their disordered eating. Instead of treating the symptoms (like restriction or binging), they’re

working on curing the underlying malaise and finding solutions for coping with future anxiety or disorder.

For many, support groups were triggering and therapy didn’t help because they didn’t feel heard. Nutrition advice was often faulty

or incomplete, and many programs felt too expensive or time consuming to continue.

After therapist shopping, I found one that is body positive and has a group therapy session with other

girls experiencing the same issues. Knowing I am not alone helps.

Female, 18-24

Talking to a therapist- she suggested that the reason I

overeat is because I don’t feel comfortable talking about my

feelings and I think she might be right.

Female, 25-34

I really liked seeing a good RD and getting practical, non-emotional

food advice. I actually learned that I’m not an emotional eater–I just

overate at times due to restricting food too much at others.

Female, 25-34

Having a health coach is extremely effective.

Female, 55-64

There was one support group in particular that was “sick.” It was filled with other people in eating

disorders, and for a long time all of us, for some reason, felt like we all had to stay “sick” in that group. …

Female, 35-44

It worked then and there, but since I’ve been released from treatment, my exercise has gone up. I’m eating enough to sustain my current healthy weight, but I don’t venture

outside of my comfortable food choices and I HATE/often avoid going to any events/social

gatherings that include food. Female, 25-34

CBT was great in changing my perspective about body image. Most

of my recovery came from stubbornly re-educating myself and removing negative influences such as fashion

magazines, following models or fitness models on social media, etc.

Female, 25-34

I get a lot of help online from other people who follow the ancestral approach.

People like Kaila Prins and Stefani Ruper! Listening to other women work through

issues helps me talk through mine…I am slowly starting to trust my body and have

come so far in the last 3 years. Female, 25-34

The methods [talk therapy and self-help] were when I was a pre-teen, and don’t

apply to my current life as an adult.

Female, 25-34

I was there [talk therapy] to please my parents. With time

passing I found out that the initiative to get healthy came

from the inside out. Female, 25-34

Talk therapy made me feel like I was crazier than I actually am and made me dwell excessively on my ‘eating disorder.’ I did better with

dialectical behavioral therapy group and practical solutions.

Female, 25-34

Not having someone one on one to help with my situation.

Female, 25-34

I’m somewhat orthorexic so conventional wisdom from doctors, nutritionists, counselors, homeopaths, etc… don’t work for me. Personally, I feel I’m far ahead in knowledge than my peers and know my body better than anyone.

The one thing I wish I could get help with is the underlying cause of my obsession. There is something deeper that drives this quest for perfection. Maybe I’m impatient? I’ve peel back the first few layers of my compulsion with perfection but can’t seem

to get any deeper. But, I don’t want to start all over with counselors at that outer layer again because I feel like I’m not getting anywhere. Female, 25-34


46

47%

17%

A surprising number of people are going at this all alone. Even with resources abounding on the internet and in our communities, many

of us feel like we don’t have the support of the people who matter most: our friends and families.

have family AND friends who will support them

feel like they have nobody to support them

I have been supported, but I also feel it is a personal/internal journey, as

it is not only about my body as a ‘physical thing,’ but my relationship

with how I am in the world. Female, 35-44

I’ve kicked against this since I was 7 or 8. The shame and

embarrassment of asking for help again feels like too much. I don’t think

I would recognize “normal” if it bit me.

Female, 45-54

47

From Recovery to DiscoveryBeyond Our Bodies

48

What does it take to move beyond our bodies and into ourselves? While “recovery” is a term given to the process of healing from an eating disorder, anyone who is struggling with their food, fitness, and body image has to go through some semblance of recovery to regain control over their lives. !!The question is: how in the world are we expected to recover and heal when all we’re doing is fixating on the times we’ve felt less-than in the past and worrying that our bodies will still be greater-than in the future? !!In this section, you will find a compilation of ways that respondents get outside of their bodies, as well as discover what it is that is holding them back. Interestingly, in the anonymous comments, respondents under the age of 35 were more likely to remark about what was hurting them or hindering them in their lives, while those over the age of 35 were more likely to leave a comment about what they were grateful for. While people of all ages still fixated on their bodies, there is at least hope that as we age and grow into ourselves we find more perspective and self-acceptance. !!

In this section, you will explore what happens after recovery: discovery.



49

Need some ideas for ways to get your mind off of your body? Here’s what respondents like to do:

75%

watch movies

32% 38%watch TV read fiction read nonfiction

71% 70% 65%

71% 23%go to the theater watch standup comedy listen to music attend religious/spiritual

center

24%

go to the zoo go to the park go to the beach go to a museum

55% 64%44%


50

Need some ideas for ways to get your mind off of your body? Here’s what respondents like to do:

65% 46% 22% 35%cook bake garden take classes (not

fitness/nutrition-related)

59%

have sex dance travel volunteer

44%70%

38%

14% 31% 18% 18%sing karaoke take photos draw play music


51

Other great answers included:!

Coloring Books YouTube Poetry

Sewing Crocheting Coding

Prayer Board Games Family Time


52

Given the opportunity what is the one thing respondents would change about their lives?

While many people predictably answered “my body” or “my relationship with food,” body, food, and fitness are often just ways to cope with emotions around other areas of lack. The top non-body-related answers centered

around finances, career, romance, and health/pain.

To have a life that I’m comfortable with and not

live it how I “should.” Female, 25-34

My preoccupation with eating right and exercise

that gets in the way of other commitments or

passions. Female, 18-24

I would I have a new job if I could. A well paid one,

where I was respected and appreciated.

Female, 25-34

That I would feel more comfortable in my skin, that I

would be able to not care what society’s standard of

“acceptable” is and that I would be able to feel emotionally self-

sufficient. Female, 25-34

I would rearrange my hormones to work correctly. Then maybe I could get past all of this and really live life.

Right now, I am only existing, not living. I’d like to be a positive

impact on those around me and not a negative one, which I feel I am

right now. Male, 35-44

Only one thing?! ;) MY JOB!!

Female, 35-44

To be more adventurous and take more risks.

Female, 25-34

I would not be pre-occupied with what I look like, I would

just not care and I would believe that people love me

and that someone would want to fall in love with me.

Female, 18-24


53

Given the opportunity what is the one thing respondents would change about their lives?


54

What is one thing for which respondents are grateful?Overwhelmingly, we are grateful for our family and friends.

One thing?! That’s impossible to say – so

many. Female, 35-44

My faith – it has gotten me through a lot this year.

Female, 35-44

Exams being over for the semester! So much stress

to say goodbye to. Female, 18-24

My health! Isn’t that what this is all about?!

Female, 35-44

The internet, the ability to research and learn about

anything. Female, 45-54

I like myself. :) Female, 35-44

I am grateful for my mom. She tries so hard to

understand…and does so with compassion and without judgement.

Male, 35-44

That no matter how bad I may *feel* about my life, and how much fear and self-doubt I

harbor, when I step back and look at things objectively, I

am totally all right. Completely safe, secure, and loved.

Female, 35-44

the body image report 2015

Health & Medicine