'Legging Legs' trend: Expert warns of dangerous impact of unrealistic beauty standards on mental health

Social media has its boons and banes. While we are much more connected and closer to our loved ones, thanks to the internet, we have also exposed ourselves to unrealistic beauty standards set by celebrities and social media influencers.

The latest internet trend, the "legging legs" began with a scene from Gilmore Girls. The trend dictates that only people with thin legs should wear leggings. Wondering what that means? Let's learn more!

What is the 'legging legs' trend?

The hashtag #legginglegs was trending on TikTok, but has now been banned. It started when women shared videos of themselves in yoga pants showing off the gap between their thighs. The trend encourages people to look a certain way if they want to look good in leggings.

Many users were furious with the latest trend as they felt it promotes body shaming and eating disorders.

A 2022 Dove Self-Esteem Project survey unveils that 1 in 2 girls, aged 10 to 17, attribute low self-esteem to toxic beauty advice on social media. 90 per cent of them accepted following accounts that negatively impact their self-perception.

What does the expert have to say?

We at Editorji spoke to Kolkata-based Psychologist Jyoti Das who revealed the implications of following an internet trend. She told us,"Placing expectations on the body to fit into trends is never helpful. Trends change within months. So do ideal body types. Changing the body that rapidly to make space for every trend is humanly not possible or would have to consume each waking moment of daily life which again isn’t how we can live. "

She further added, "The popularisation of such trends affects the physical and emotional health of young women. Media has been a large source of promoting body dysmorphia and anxiety. This severely affects newly developing sense of self, increases anxiety and decreases self value over time."

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