It's 2019.
Maintaining a healthy relationship with your body is like navigating a minefield as a millennial woman, especially when you're confronted with manipulative weight loss advertising on the regular.
You can't even switch on an episode of Love Island without being hard sold Skinny Sprinkles in the ad breaks, and with social media now being a daily (hourly) ritual, we are constantly exposed to harmful messages.
Kim Kardashian has proven to be a controversial figurehead of weight loss advertising, using her Instagram account to share links to buy weight loss products, from appetite suppressant lollipops to skinny shakes.
This week was no exception as the 38-year-old, boasting 124 million Instagram followers, took to the social platform to sing the praises of the latest weight loss fad, flat tummy shakes.
'You guys all know I looove @flattummyco shakes. I've just restarted them (it's Day 2 today) and I’m already feeling so good,' she posted. 'We had a huuuuge Christmas this year and between that, New Years and everything inbetween… I felt like it was impossible to fit in my regular work outs and eat healthy. But this program is giving me a kick in the right direction that I need.'
She continued: 'These meal replacement shakes are so good and they're helping me get my tummy back to flat. I’m already feeling amazing and I’m so excited for the next few weeks. Because they’re all about getting women back on track… they’ve got a 20% off sale going on right now, so if you want to start 2019 off right… trust me, you’re going to want to check them out. PS. I’m doing the chocolate program.'
Unsurprisingly, Kim's actions proved controversial, with a lot of people finding fault in her exposing her young followers to body image pressures.
One person who has previously spoken out against Kim's actions is actress and personality Jameela Jamil, who posted about body confidence just last week.
'When you bring Shame into talking about health and diet, it’s a bad thing,' Jameela posted. 'Let’s make 2019 the year of not allowing anyone who is about that food and body shaming... anywhere the fuck near us! Especially when the financially profit from it! And if it’s friends and family doing it, still unfollow.'
She continued: 'You can be there for them, and explain why it’s bad, but until they stop... take that out of your timeline and out of your head. Even when you know what they are saying is wrong, it still goes in and affects your Protect your precious mind and body. (Ps. Boxing Day in England is just the day after Christmas.) #letabitcheat #letabitchlive.'
It's 2019. Let's make a stop to this.
