On Pinterest, searches for the term "curvy body reference" are up five times compared to last year. Photo: AFP
What if striving for a supposedly "perfect body" was a soon a thing of the past?
Every summer, the same goal comes up on social networks, as talk turns to the famous "summer body". This term is used to describe a slim and muscular frame, the kind that is proudly displayed during summer vacations.
But according to a survey conducted by Pinterest among its users and their usage habits, searches relating to dieting and weight loss are down compared to last year.
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According to the photo-sharing social network, which had 478 million active users in 2021, searches containing the term "weight loss" were down by 20% between July 2021 and May 2022.
On the contrary, between mid-April and mid-May, searches for "quick and healthy meals" were up 65 times and searches for "healthy food motivation" were up by 13 times.
This comes after the platform banned weight loss ads as of July 2021.
The body positive movement
Searches relating to self-acceptance are on the rise too.
Indeed, the term "body positivity" has twice as many searches on the site, while searches for "body reference with curves" have increased fivefold. Searches for "quotes to accept your body" are three times more numerous.
The concept of "body positivity" is a response to this quest for the perfect body.
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This movement, which originated in 1996 in the US, seeks to promote inclusivity, celebrating all body types. Since the 2010s, it has been gaining momentum on social networks.
Today, it seems to be slowly becoming part of people's mindsets. – AFP Relaxnews
