Body type: the ideal 

Body type: the ideal

To achieve the perceived ideal weight and body shape, many turn to disordered behaviours such as restrictive dieting, a variety of fat burning or muscle building products, exhaustive exercise, and tabacco smoking. They may starve themselves because they hate their bodies, eventually overeat because they get over-hungry, feel incredibly guilty after eating, and then try to get rid of the unwanted calories. Keep in mind that weight and body composition are determined by a number of factors. Some of these factors (such as calorie intake and physical activity) can be manipulated. But other factors (such as body type, bone structure, the way fat is stored, and other genetic variables) cannot be manipulated. Most people simply lack the raw materials to build the “ideal” body, regardless of how strict they are with their eating and exercise regimens. In fact only about 5% of American women have the ultra-long and thin body-type that is seen almost exclusively in the media. Women who attempt to achieve this body type (but lack the genetic material to do so) are setting themselves up for years and years of yo-yo dieting, weight fluctuations, disordered eating, and depression.