Millennial Woman Saw Body Positivity As the Future—Now Realizes Mistake

Newsweek

2 days ago

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A body image influencer has turned to the internet to share the eye-opening reason why she is struggling to "show up" on Instagram.
With almost 610,000 followers, Alex Light recently received 451,000 views on a clip on Instagram (@alexlight_ldn) that revolves around loving your body, no matter what shape or size it is. But lately, she has felt like the body positivity movement has become a "bit hostile."
The 36-year-old told Newsweek: "I noticed a shift in 2022. The messaging around body acceptance started to die down online, while content promoting weight loss became more dominant again—all coinciding, of course, with the rise of Ozempic.
"Fashion and media trends also started leaning back into the thin ideal and suddenly, the inclusive moment we had started building felt like it was slipping away."
Two screenshots from the viral video showing Light's face as she speaks to the camera.
Two screenshots from the viral video showing Light's face as she speaks to the camera.
Alex Light/Instagram/@alexlight_ldn
A Pew Research Center survey of over 10,000 U.S. adults in February 2024 found that about 75 percent of Americans have heard of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and similar medications, all of which are GLP-1 agonists that help manage blood sugar and suppress appetite.
However, only 12 percent of those familiar with them think they are good options for people wanting to lose weight without a health condition, while 62 percent say they are not suitable and 26 percent are unsure.
Light, from Liverpool, U.K., states in the video that her type of content about self-acceptance and body image seems to have "disappeared and replaced by thinness." She notes that her feed is filled with weight-loss before-and-afters, even from people who once promoted body positivity.
"It's been really challenging!" said Light. "As someone who has built a platform around encouraging body acceptance, it's disheartening to see culture pivot back to ideals that are so harmful for so many.
"Professionally, I've had to work harder to keep my content visible in a space that increasingly rewards the opposite, and deal with the negativity that now comes with posting about body confidence."
Light standing in the mirror wearing pink baggy trousers and an oversized t-shirt. (Right) Wearing a burgundy dress standing on a balcony.
Light standing in the mirror wearing pink baggy trousers and an oversized t-shirt. (Right) Wearing a burgundy dress standing on a balcony.
Instagram/@alexlight_ldn/
Over the past six years, she has focused on creating content that challenges diet culture and unrealistic beauty standards.
She has openly shared personal experiences with eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image struggles, fostering a community centered on body confidence and partnering with brands that share these values.
Light is also the author of You Are Not A Before Picture, and she regularly hosts conversations, panels, and events promoting body acceptance and self-worth.
This shift in body acceptance online has impacted her mental health.
She told Newsweek: "As someone who suffered with an eating disorder—which is what led me to this work in the first place—I've had to consciously protect myself, because this messaging can affect me too!
"The rise in glamourizing thinness has made it somewhat harder to be grounded in my recovery, but at the same time, it's also strengthened my resolve to speak out, because I know I'm not the only one feeling this way."
Light told Newsweek why she was inspired to share her thoughts on July 4.
She said: "I wanted to put words to something so many people are feeling in private. The cultural shift back towards thinness is impacting our collective self-esteem and speaking about it openly helps break the silence and shame that often surrounds those feelings.
"I also wanted to be honest with my audience about how I was feeling and why showing up on Instagram is difficult right now."
She was met with a wave of support, receiving over 25,000 likes and more than 1,600 comments.
"I think your content is needed now more than ever Alex," reassured one user.
Another highlighted an excerpt from her clip: "'Body confidence just isn't trending anymore' what a sad sad sentence. That loving or accepting the body you're in has to even be a trend—it's crazy. Do not go ANYWHERE! I have a daughter and we need people like you advocating for us and future generations. Keep going!"
A third user said: "Your work matters. It has always mattered. This messaging is more important now than ever."