The thigh gap trend sums up everything which is wrong with social media.
Check out this gut-wrenching email:
“Hey Russ, I have a question. All of my friends have thigh gaps but I don’t, and every time we upload a picture together they (and the comments sections) make jokes about my thick legs. I’m size 10 so it’s not like I’m overweight but I feel unhappy about this. I even went to my local gym where a personal trainer gave me some exercises to help me get a thigh gap, but it hasn’t worked, so I was wondering if you could give me a bit of advice?”
– Rebecca
Yep, it’s the thigh gap craze, which is currently sweeping across Instagram faster than a housemaid on two scoops of pre-workout.
This is where trendy orange people try to make you feel useless as a woman unless you have a space between the tops of your thighs.
(Seriously, how did we get here?!)
So sit back and relax, as I debunk the holy hell out of this motherfucking bullshit.
The “Thigh Gap” Craze Must Die
Your bone structure determines whether you have a thigh gap.
Every body is built slightly differently, so some of you are going to have the hip bone placement (something which I know a lot about, having had mine re-structured as a kid) which gives you a thigh gap, whereas others will not have it.
It’s entirely genetic, and this means that a thigh gap is not a trainable factor (kinda like guys beating themselves up for not being tall enough).
There are no exercises which can “get you” a thigh gap, so that explains why you weren’t seeing any results from the stuff given to you by that so-called personal trainer who should’ve fucking known better. (1)
Seriously, give them one of these from me:
Anyway, the fitness world can quickly descend into chaos when new trends arrive, so it’s easy to go online and find advice from liars “experts” who claim to have discovered the big secret.
In the case of the thigh gap, their suggestions range from using resistance bands instead of dumbbells (honestly, your muscles cannot tell the difference!), to following their special low carb diet (I wish I was joking!), to drinking their magical weight loss supplements which taste like they came out of a camel’s foof.
Don’t fall for any of it.
Instead, listen to what Yale School of Medicine had to say on this matter:
“A thigh gap is most affected by your bone structure, specifically the width of your hips and the position of your hips within your pelvis. It is also affected by genetics, which dictate where your body stores fat. Thus, there isn’t a lot you can do to achieve a thigh gap, nor should you try.”
– Elizabeth Gardner, MD
The Dangers Of Trends Like This
Social media can be a very toxic place.
I limit my time on it for that very reason.
A 2018 study found that people who spend lots of time on social media platforms have higher levels of anxiety, poor sleep, and depression – and I’m just talking about general social media usage here (e.g. staring at your phone too long), but when we go deeper into the topic there are even more serious issues. (2)
You see, when we take into consideration the body dysmorphia concerns which are caused by bullshit social media trends like “thigh gaps” and the conveyor belt of unrealistic beauty standards we see every day, it creates an environment for low self esteem, weight gain, and eating disorders. (3)
Fuck that.
Further Reading:
If you enjoyed this blog, then you’ll probably also like reading these.
>> “Mono Diets”, Really?
>> What The Fuck Are “Negative Calorie Foods”?
>> The Detox Industry Is A Dumpster Fire Of Misinformation
References:
- Katch F., et al. Effects of Sit Up Exercise Training On Adipose Cell Size and Adiposity. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport (1984).
- Scott H., et al. Social media use and adolescent sleep patterns: cross-sectional findings from the UK millennium cohort study. BMJ Open (2019).
- Aparicio-Martines P., et al. Social Media, Thin-Ideal, Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Attitudes: An Exploratory Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health (2019).
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