Is A Thin Body Celebrated More Than A Fit One?

By , SparkPeople Blogger
I'll admit it. I'm an Olympics junkie. I love watching almost any event- luge, snowboarding, aerials- even if I don't understand what's happening. I just enjoy the spirit of the Games and how young men and women are celebrated for their athletic accomplishments. I also admire the bodies of the athletes, so fit and strong. But I notice that many of them (especially women) do not have a body type that would typically be celebrated in the media. Most female Olympic athletes wouldn't grace the cover of a women's magazine or walk the runway at a fashion show. Why? Because even though they have the talent to win a gold medal, they aren't skinny.

Speed skating is a perfect example. Most female speed skaters have large quads that are built for power and strength. Skiers are another example. You aren't likely to find a thin downhill racer- male or female. They are also built for power. You'll see women like this on the cover of a fitness or sports magazine, but probably not on the cover of a fashion magazine sporting the hot new swimsuit of the season.

I've blogged many times about being a runner. Since becoming a marathoner, my body has changed. My legs are strong and my thigh and calf muscles are defined. But my legs would no longer be considered "thin" like they once were. In the past that has bothered me because, like many women, I've compared myself to the images I see on T.V. or in magazines. But more recently, I've embraced those changes and I'm proud of my muscles.

Women have asked me how to get "toned" without developing muscle. Some have told me they would never start running because they didn't want to become muscular. I respect that everyone has a different idea of the perfect body type. For some, that "perfect" body is thin and small. But for me, I'd rather have someone comment that I looked fit and strong than say I look thin. The best compliment I've ever received was from a woman who competed in Ironmans. She said, "Do you run? Because you look like a runner."

What do you think? Does the media celebrate thin female bodies versus fit and strong ones? Is that okay?