I found this picture recently posted on facebook by a friend and couldn’t help but look further into this strange too-skinny body fad we have been having for years.

Now before I continue, I want to make one thing perfectly clear–I know that some women are naturally skinny and some women aren’t. We were all made different and I don’t have any problem with natural thinness.

That being said, I know without a doubt that not every model and actress are naturally ‘skinny-minnies.’ According to about.com, the lowest body fat percentage a woman should have is 21%. (For you men, it is 8%.)

Snopes.com reports that Marilyn Monroe was a size 8 at her thinnest and when she gained a little bit of weight, she was a size 10. Check out how beautiful she was.

According to many websites and articles I’ve read, the average American woman is a size 14. If this is true, then why do we label a size 6 or bigger (typically through size 10) a “plus sized model?”

Let’s be real here. Every body type has its own “normal,” size depending on height and bone structure. Think back to when you were the ‘perfect’ size. (Maybe you are!) What size made you feel good about yourself?

Who cares what the scale says? When I was in highschool, I weighed 140 pounds. I was a size 6. (I need a time machine!) I go by the way my clothes fit and how I feel each day.

 

Since I showed you a picture of what I consider healthy, check out the picture I found of Kate Moss. She is pretty in the face, don’t get me wrong. But she’s grossly underweight.

Radar Programs treats eating disorders and also has statistics on  models, weight, etc. They say that Kate Moss is 5’7″ and only weighs 95 pounds–putting her 30% below normal body weight!

Why do we as ladies compare ourselves to magazine women with unattainable weights and body types (without unhealthy means that is…) when we are beautiful and curvy just the way we are? Take a good look at Kate. Do you want to look like that? I sure as heck don’t.

I would like all of you women out there to post your honest opinions. If you could be any body type, what would it be?

And to the men, what body type do you find attractive when you look at a woman?

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