"They label bodies as right or wrong. A before-and-after image tells a story: the "before" was a problem, and the "after" is the solution. This framing can be deeply harmful, teaching people that their worth is tied to changing their bodies. When we consistently see one body positioned as a failure and the other as a success, it reinforces the message that only certain bodies are acceptable. This binary view leaves little room for the natural diversity of bodies and can lead people to view weight or shape as a moral issue rather than a neutral physical characteristic."
"They erase the complexity of health. Health is not just physical appearance, and appearance changes can come at a significant cost, such as surgery, extreme dieting, compulsive exercise, or mental distress. A photo cannot tell you whether the person is sleeping well, enjoying food, or feeling connected to others. It cannot reveal if the changes are sustainable or if they were achieved in ways that harmed mental or physical health."
Before-and-after photos present one body as a problem and another as the solution, teaching worth based on appearance change. These images erase the unseen costs behind visible change, including surgery, extreme dieting, compulsive exercise, and mental distress. A single photograph cannot convey sleep quality, relationship connection, sustainable habits, or psychological wellbeing. Repeated exposure invites comparison, often increasing shame, guilt, and harmful weight-control behaviors rather than inspiration. The binary framing reduces acceptance of natural body diversity and encourages viewing weight or shape as moral attributes instead of neutral physical characteristics.
Read at Psychology Today
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