The complicated truth about social media and body image

If you mindlessly scroll through Instagram or Facebook whenever you get a few seconds of downtime, you’re far from alone. But have you ever wondered how all those images of other people’s bodies – whether your friend’s holiday snap or a celebrity’s gym selfie – could be affecting how you view your own? Much has been made over the years about how mainstream media presents unrealistic beauty standards in the form of photoshopped celebrities or stick-thin fashion models. Now that influencers fill up our feeds, it’s easy to imagine that…

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Labor promises independent health policy body for ‘big, structural reform’

Shadow health minister Catherine King says independent health body will be similar to the Productivity Commission. Photograph: Alex Murray/AAP A Labor government would set up a permanent policy-making body called the Australian Health Reform Commission to address challenges such as chronic disease, cost barriers, long hospital waiting times and workforce shortages. The shadow health minister, Catherine King, will announce the promise on Wednesday to implement an independent body similar to the Productivity Commission, with commissioners appointed for five years. King says if Labor is elected, the commission’s priorities would be directed through…

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Ladies, do you have normal BMI and higher body fat levels? You are at risk of breast cancer

Postmenopausal women with normal body mass index (BMI), but with higher body fat levels are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, a study warns. Body fat levels are typically measured via BMI, which is a ratio of weight to height. While BMI may be a convenient method to estimate body fat, it is not an exact way to determine whole body fat levels, as muscle mass and bone density cannot be distinguished from fat mass. The study included participants who had a normal BMI (between 18.5 to 25.0) and…

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Being close to nature can make you develop positive body image

Exposure to natural environment and images of nature may have a powerful effect on promoting positive body image, according to a study led by scientists, including one of Indian-origin. The study, published in the journal Body Image, involved five separate studies from researchers, including those from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. In three studies, participants were shown photographs of both natural and built environments, with results showing that exposure to images of natural, but not built, environments resulted in improved body image. A fourth study involved members of the…

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9 things about a woman’s body we bet men didn’t know

1/9Facts about a female’s body she may be too shy to admit 0 Sex education is a sad affair in our country. Body-positivity only sounds like a classy word that comes from revolutionaries-of-sorts from far off lands. But, guess what? We all have bodies and we all have issues with them. Knowing about what is normal and what isn’t is nothing but mandatory. So, in a bid to destigmatize knowledge about your body and its sexuality, here’s looking into facts about a female’s body she may be too shy to…

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Herbs for Detoxification: Cleanse Your Body from Within

When was the last time you detoxed? If you have been planning to go on a detox diet or cleanse your system by eating light, now is the right time. With the change in season, the body is usually more susceptible to infections and diseases as our immunity is low. Following a controlled diet and including lighter foods can help a great deal in detoxification of the system from impurities. Did you know that herbs are among one of the most effective home remedies for detoxification or boosting digestion? They are loaded with essential…

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