Dixya Poudel

In social media nowadays, we can see photos of beautiful people angling for the most alluring image. And as most people compare themselves to these picture perfect people, they find that envy is inescapable.
Majority of people are more or less conscious of their weight. Throughout my teenage years I was skinny but as I moved over to my twenties and early thirties I started gaining weight that I found difficult to shed off. It also doesn’t help that I am a foodie. Like most people, I am aware of my increasing weight even as I try my best to diet and exercise.
Fitness is all the rage these days. Celebrities mostly flaunt their perfect beach bodies creating envy amongst fellow men and women. Fitness instructors are in high demand and people frequent gyms to sculpt their bodies. However, fitness regime isn't just about having the perfect figure. It is also about maintaining an optimal level of physical and mental health. If you are fit, you not only look good, you also feel good. Hence we should all follow an exercise routine be it running outdoors, swimming, jogging, practicing yoga, brisk walking or hitting the gym and working out.
However, pressure to look our best may lead to overt stress and anxiety. It is true that appearance matters but only to the extent that we allow it to. We should be under control of our body image and not let the society tell us any different. In reality, celebrities team up with fitness instructors and nutritionists while working out diligently in the gym to gain that envious figure. But most people often don’t have time to spend on gym workouts.
Yet, excuses shouldn’t come in between us and our health. While we are busy running our lives without a thought to our health we are being subject to multiple health problems, primary of which is obesity. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), millions of people are obese throughout the world. Fast food consumption, stressful life and lack of exercise cause obesity. Obese people are more prone to cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.
When Michelle Obama was the First Lady of United States, she ran a campaign to fight obesity called Let's Move! I think it is very admirable and revolutionary. Today occasionally few celebrities talk about their weight issues publicly opting for an authentic message of positive body image.
There is a fine line between concern and worry over our fitness. Excessive worrying over our bodies creates negative body image. Prevention and curbing of obesity is important but it is also equally important to cultivate a healthy attitude about our bodies. We are born with our physical structures that we can shape but only to an extent. Today's generation is obsessed with social media and the constant comparison. However, this kind of outlook might hinder positive body image especially in the youth.
We all have our own unique features and shapes. Next time we take a look at ourselves, we should see ourselves not as physical entities with flaws and imperfections but as joyous and healthy individuals who take care of their bodies without excessive obsession. Positive body image promotes a healthy lifestyle which should be our first and foremost objective.