The world of fitness has always been a breeding ground for trends, but rarely seen has a trend been as damaging as the one currently sweeping social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. It’s all about appearance-driven fitness, where women are being told that certain exercises will give them a ‘runner’s waist’ or ‘cortisol face’ – and let’s be honest, who wants that? (I mean, I’ve seen some of these posts, and it’s like, what’s wrong with having a strong, athletic body?) Long considered a positive outlet for stress and anxiety, exercise is now being tainted by the pursuit of an unattainable beauty standard. And it’s not just about looks – what many thought impossible is now happening: women are being discouraged from exercising altogether, and it’s a crying shame.
But what’s behind this trend, exactly? It seems that non-profit ExerciseNZ has singled out ‘runner’s waist’ and ‘cortisol face’ as the main culprits, and they’re not happy about it. They’ve been tracking the rise of these buzzwords, and the results are staggering – it’s like, every other post is about how to avoid getting a ‘runner’s waist’ or how to cure ‘cortisol face’. And yet, the benefits of exercise far outweigh any perceived drawbacks. Exercise is essential for both physical and mental health, and it’s what we should be promoting, not tearing down. Yet, the fear of not meeting these unrealistic beauty standards is winning out, and it’s a battle we can’t afford to lose.
And let’s not forget the tennis players, who are often held up as paragons of fitness – they’re not immune to this trend either. I’ve spoken to a few of them, and they’re just as frustrated as the rest of us – they didn’t get where they are today by worrying about their waistline or facial features. They’ve worked hard, and it shows. But for young Kiwi women, the message is clear: it’s not about being healthy, it’s about looking good. It’s a sad state of affairs, and one that we need to change, pronto. We need to start promoting exercise as a positive, empowering activity, not a means to an end. So, let’s get out there and start exercising, without worrying about what we look like – our bodies (and minds) will thank us.
