Skinny seems to be back.
Scroll social media or skim wellness headlines, and the message is familiar: smaller bodies. Health is measured by how much space women take up. And that should concern all of us.
The pursuit of skinny has always been sold as discipline, wellness and self-control. In reality, it leads to exhaustion, anxiety and a very fractured relationship with food and exercise. The scale may move, but strength, energy and confidence are usually the first things lost.
Skinny was never the same as healthy. Strength changes the conversation. It shifts the focus from shrinking the body to supporting it. Building muscle, protecting bones and joints, fuelling properly and developing resilience that carries into everyday life. Strong isn’t about a look; it is about function. Feeling capable. Moving well. And protecting your future.
The shift is as mental as it is physical. Skinny-focused fitness is rooted in restriction and fear. Fear of weight gain, aging and taking up space. Strength-focused fitness is rooted in progress and purpose. It replaces punishment with empowerment and control with capability. At a time when culture is pulling women back towards shrinking, choosing strength matters more than ever. The goal should always be stronger, steadier and more sustainable.
Skinny is fragile. Strength is functional. One fades. One carries you forward. Choose wisely.
Photo by: Shari Luchko
