More than eight in ten Quebecers (81%) believe that society places too much importance on physical appearance. And more than three quarters (76%) consider that the beauty standards conveyed in the media are unrealistic. However, more than half of Quebecers want to lose weight (59%) and more than a third (36%) say they are “obsessed” with their weight, reports a Léger survey carried out among 1,803 respondents this fall on behalf of the organization ÉquiLibre .
These figures demonstrate a striking contradiction, according to Andrée-Ann Dufour Bouchard, nutritionist and project manager for ÉquiLibre, an organization whose mission is to promote the development of a positive body image in individuals.
“Despite the fact that people recognize that appearance plays a very important role, that the models presented on social networks are not necessarily realistic and that we talk too much about weight in society, individually people still remain caught up with this concern about weight,” she says in an interview with Duty.
Not surprisingly, for just over half of respondents (51%), the return of the holidays and the arrival of summer are the times of year when people are most inclined to want to lose weight. Even for one in five women (22%), summer or a trip is always or almost always accompanied by a desire to lose weight.
“There are moments, like the return of the holidays with resolutions, which are conducive to exacerbating this vulnerability,” explains M.me Dufour Bouchard. This means that, often, people will let themselves be fooled by the weight loss industry which is there with all its marketing. The industry’s messages have adapted, they are less restrictive, but are no less guilt-inducing and harmful in the long term. »
The problem, she believes, is not making a resolution to be healthier, but this idea that weight is “the only idea of success.” “We are not saying that no one can lose weight or that we no longer want to worry about health. But the idea is really to try to ignore weight a little more, so that it’s not the only objective. »
Young people under pressure
A third of Quebecers say they give too much importance to what others think about their appearance. More than 4 in 10 respondents also say that their weight makes them unhappy (42%) or makes them anxious (41%). “These already worrying figures are significantly higher among women, people with a BMI greater than 30, respondents who use social media on a daily basis and among respondents who often or always feel pressure to match the beauty standard », We can read in the summary of the survey.
The industry’s messages have adapted, they are less restrictive, but are no less guilt-inducing and harmful in the long term.
More than one in ten (14%) respondents often or always feel pressure to look like beauty standards. Among 18-34 year olds, almost half of respondents (48%) would like to have a body like those they see on social networks.
Young people are also more likely to feel guilty. In this age group, 66% of respondents say they feel guilty for not doing more physical activity. “This poor relationship with physical activity is reflected in particular by the fact that they are more negatively influenced by the weight loss and weight loss industry. fitness », Write the authors of the report. They also note that young people are “more likely to mention that they choose their physical activities based on the number of calories burned and the potential to sculpt their body (14%)”.