Figure and Shape

With summer approaching, swimsuits are coming out. Here are some slim down tips to help you be ready for the beach or poolside.

It turns out before and after weight loss photos are often faked. Don’t be tricked into buying a product you don’t need.

Originally published in Marie Claire, this is an account of the modeling industry and its culture through the eyes of a former model.

The Urban Dictionary defines the slang word ‘cankle’ as:

“The absence of a defined ankle on a person – whereby the calf of the leg merges directly into the foot.

Blush PhotographyGeez, some people will go a long way for their craft.

Flickr: mrflipYou got to wonder.

This tool shows what you could look like after losing different amounts of weight. Is it good motivation or just a fun app?

There is a common thread in many male transformation stories.

For most of human history women with curves have been celebrated. Only recently has skinny been “in”.

Fat men seem to have no hesitation in wearing a speedo at the beach. Why does this cultural anomaly exist and what do you think about it?

Finally men…

Nowadays we have a polite name for clothes sizing: Plus-size.

When people think of an eating disorder – they usually think of an extremely underweight woman in her late teens or early twenties.

Health authorities in Spain are recommending a major overhaul of clothes sizing.

Once upon a time, art imitated life.

Were woman preoccupied with body image and diet 300 years ago? We found some very old diet tips from the 17th century.

Are women really more attracted to muscular men? Your gym membership may be more valuable then you think.

Which women defined the body shapes of their day? Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, and Cindy Crawford to name a few.

Only 84% of women actually have an hourglass figure. What is it and why are we obsessed with this body shape?

Once upon a time bodybuilding was about lifting weights, good nutrition, and attaining good muscular symmetry and form.

Celebrity photo retouching is so common we really can’t believe anything we see in print. However, people still buy into this illusion of beauty.

Some new research from the NPD group has hit the papers this week.

While flicking through the TV channels, I had the misfortune to come across a fitness infomercial.

Has female body shape changed? It seems the once desired hourglass figure is long gone and replaced with a more slim-line look.

Once muscular Arnold Schwarzenegger has turned a bit flabby according to pictures circulating on the internet. Is his humaness inspirational?

How much have our perceptions changed over the last generation?70s Female SuperheroCheck out that waist!

What do Kate Winslet, Venus Williams, and Jodie Kidd all have in common?

How many times is that statement made?

Pilates is often marketed as a weight loss exercise but research would state otherwise. What does the research say and what are Pilates good for?

The current issue of the Harvard Gazette has a superb article about a study into the Western male’s obsession with muscles.