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| Hi, friends, and welcome back. Did you know that tomorrow (Nov. 17) is the Great American Smokeout? The third Thursday of November is an annual day of action for folks to start their “journey toward a smoke-free life.” You can check out the American Cancer Society’s website for more information and resources. |
| On to today’s programming. This Wednesday, we’re discussing rumors about the return of “heroin chic” and how this lethal fashion trend of yesteryear could be even more dangerous in the era of social media. We know eating disorders and disordered eating can be distressing to read about, so we want to give fair warning that we’ll be going in-depth on these subjects — and it’s OK if you need to tap out of this issue. |
| Other stuff we have in store: |
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Jennifer Aniston opens up about IVF |
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your chance to tell us your post-work wind-down rituals |
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Stay sharp,
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |
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Written by Ginger Wojcik
November 16, 2022 • 7 min read |
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| Activists are enraged about the supposed return of “heroin chic” |
The internet is in flames over a recent article in the New York Post headlined “Bye, bye booty: Heroin chic is back.”
As many of you will remember, “heroin chic” was a fashion trend in the 1990s and early aughts that glamorized extreme thinness, sunken eyes, stringy hair, and a general sickly vibe. The trend was widely seen as a glorification of opioid use and anorexia, which are among the deadliest mental health disorders.
Last week, actress and proponent of body neutrality Jameela Jamil tore into the Post article in a heartfelt op-ed. “‘Heroin Chic’ had my generation in a chokehold,” she writes. “Most of us still haven’t fully recovered. I barely made it out alive, myself.”
Jamil isn’t being hyperbolic. It’s estimated that 10,200 people die every year in the United States as a result of an eating disorder.
Eating disorders of all kinds can be difficult to treat, and people in recovery may return to old behaviors.
Like Jamil, I too grew up in the era of heroin chic. I remember being fascinated by super-skinny women like Kate Moss, who famously told a reporter in 2009 that “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” The nihilism of sacrificing so much in the name of an aesthetic appealed to my dark teenage brain.
And that was before social media. These days, 35% of teenagers are using social media “constantly.” TikTok (the second most popular social media site for teens) is a breeding ground for toxic diet culture and nutrition misinformation, according to a new study. (This year, TikTok made policy changes to tackle the spread of eating disorder content, but users are finding ways around the restrictions.)
If you’re living with an eating disorder, you can find help by calling, texting, or chatting online with a trained support person here. There are also online eating disorder support groups and apps to help you through your recovery.
tl;dr: The internet is livid about a recent New York Post article announcing that “Heroin chic is back.” Among the swath of reactions to the article was a call to arms by activist Jameela Jamil to stop this deadly trend in its tracks. The potential reemergence of heroin chic collides with the increase of health misinformation spreading across TikTok and other social media platforms.
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| Editor faves with health perks |
| You know those great finds you just *have* to tell your friends about? That’s how we feel about the products we recommend here. Every pick has been vetted by our editorial team, and we genuinely think it’ll make your life better. |
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| The Comfy |
| Today’s subjects are pretty heavy, so I wanted to take a little breather to highlight a product that’s 100% about feeling cozy and comfy. This wearable blanket is like a super-duper oversized sweatshirt, but better because it has a marshmallowy sherpa lining. Some other great features include a hood, a big kangaroo pocket, and the fact that it’s around $55. |
| I don’t know about y’all, but during the winter I’m cold literally all the time. And since the chances of me attracting a mate in my 350-square-foot apartment are slim, you’ll catch me wearing this wearable blanket all winter long. |
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| Jennifer Aniston recently gave a candid, self-reflective interview about her experience going through IVF. She talks about the media’s obsessive speculation about her plans to have a family and how that made the stress of trying to conceive so much worse. People are applauding Aniston for talking honestly about her challenges with fertility, an issue that’s often swept under the rug.
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| How to spot the signs of disordered eating |
“I’m not doing carbs right now.” “I’m going to the gym to work off dinner.” “I don’t even want to know how many calories are in this.” Disordered eating is easy to overlook because many of the common signs are accepted, if not encouraged, by the culture we live in.
Disordered eating refers to problematic habits around food and diet that don’t meet the diagnostic criteria of an eating disorder. Examples of disordered eating include exercising to “earn” a meal, doing fad diets, skipping meals, and being fearful of “unhealthy” foods. While not an official diagnosis, disordered eating can take a serious toll on a person’s mental health. And it also increases the risk of developing an eating disorder.
Research has found that TikTok may also be contributing to disordered eating. The study looked at 1,000 nutrition-related videos with more than 1 billion views and found that the majority pushed the idea that being thin equated to being healthy. They also noted that most videos were made by nonexperts.
We can all do our part to frame food as joyful and nourishing, instead of shameful and restrictive. Consider the way you talk about these subjects and remember that children and young people can be especially impressionable. What feels like an offhand comment about weight or food to you may have a more significant impact on them.
If you’re living with an eating disorder, you can find help by calling, texting, or chatting online with a trained support person here. There are also online eating disorder support groups and apps to help you through your recovery.
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| A show of hands for those who have been working a lot these days. I know I have been. With all the murmurs (aka panicked screams) of an impending recession, the stakes of my productivity output feel a lot higher than usual. (I’m not being paranoid: 51% of CEOs are preparing to cut jobs in the coming months.)
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| And the more energy I pour into work, the harder it can be to switch into nonwork mode at the end of the day. Once upon a time, my post-work wind-down ritual was wedging myself into a packed subway car and resting my face in a stranger’s armpit. Ah, memories. Nowadays, I just have the walk from the desk to the couch. |
| So, I could use your help. What are your tips and tricks for convincing your brain the workday is over?
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| We want to know: Do you have a go-to ritual for transitioning out of the workday? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com.
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Thanks for reading! I hope you all learned at least one useful thing today. See you on Friday!
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| Until next time, |
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Take care of yourself, and we’ll see
you again soon! |
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| This edition was powered by |
a thrifted parka I will
be wearing till March.
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