Beach Body Debunked: Why Getting a Beach Body Is Bs

The weather is warming up, which means summer is nearly upon us. While sun, sea, and sand bring joy to many, this time of year can also be one of anxiety, with some people worrying about how they’ll look on the beach. 

This is mostly down to years of messaging about having to get in shape for summer by being “beach-body ready”. The thing is “beach bodies” are total BS. Here’s why. 

What even is a “beach body”, and why is it a harmful phrase?   

We’ve all heard the phrase “beach body”, but what does it even mean? Basically, it’s the idea that you need to get “in shape” before you can set foot on the beach, which is obviously ridiculous and harmful for many reasons. 

While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to get fit and be healthier, the problem is the belief that some bodies belong on a beach and others don’t — and that you need to prepare your body to fit this ideal. 

Unfortunately, this isn’t an idea that seems to be shared across society. A 2021 study revealed that 58% of adults in the UK have experienced some form of weight stigma.1 

The media has helped shape warped perceptions of the body. A separate study showed that 69% of participants acknowledged that images in magazines had influenced ideas about “ideal” body weight, with 47% expressing a desire to lose weight after seeing these images.2 

Social media has also contributed to unrealistic body expectations, especially among young people. Recent research found that 53% of young adults who believed they weren’t thin enough or feared becoming too fat showed “clinically significant” symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder.3 

These studies show the harmful effects that phrases like “beach body” could have on both adults and young people, and why it’s important to promote healthy body ideals and embrace bodies of all shapes and sizes. 

Bodies aren’t “good” or “bad”   

Unfortunately, society conditions us to see certain body types as either “good” or “bad”. Smaller, thinner bodies are often considered “good”, while larger builds are seen as “bad”.   

For many years, these harmful body ideals have been perpetuated in newspapers, magazines, and on TV — and social media arguably has only made things worse.  

This sort of labeling may not seem like a serious issue, but it can have a significant effect on self-esteem and confidence. People chasing the “good” ideal may feel compelled to resort to extreme measures to achieve it, while people with it may feel extraordinary pressure to maintain it.  

The first step towards feeling comfortable in your own skin is to try to forget these labels. It’s not easy — especially when they seem so pervasive — but all that matters is your own health and your own happiness. Nothing else.