Strong is the new skinny has become a mantra that is becoming frequently used by females regarding their fitness and wellbeing. Within the last few months there has been a craze where women are no longer longing to be skinny but to be strong. As Kiberd (2015) explains how this new mantra ‘’is popping up on Facebook, slogan shirts and fitness books – signals a move away from “thinness” in favour of a more achievable, “real” body, led not by magazines but by social media’’.
Social media has been taken by storm by those supporting the strong is the new skinny mantra, especially celebrities who have taken to Instagram, twitter etc. to project their new strong, fit bodies rather than encouraging thinness. For example the singer Pink took to social media site Twitter to express that she felt secure and beautiful within her body after coming under fire that she had become overweight.
One’s overall health and wellbeing is of extreme importance and sadly the side effects that come with being skinny do not enable one to receive good health whereas being strong does. As Campbell (2015) explains ‘‘just because you’re not vying for 20-inch biceps or thunderously strong thighs like the muscle heads in the gym doesn’t mean you should shun the weight room. Lifting weights gives you an edge over belly fat, stress, heart disease, and cancer—and it’s also the single most effective way to look hot in a bikini’’. Strength training has been proven to burn calories, build muscle, increase bone density, strengthen joints, improve stability, improve posture and improve stability.
Even the NHS (2015) now back strength training stating “It increases your ability to do everyday tasks without getting so tired”, “the more muscle mass you have, the easier it is to burn calories, even when the body is at rest.