How ‘America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin’ Broken Physique Picture
Within the ANTM documentary, contestant Keenyah Hill shares that she has since heard from viewers that the way in which her physique was mentioned on the present truly kick-started their consuming issues, a sobering reminder of how televised physique shaming doesn’t keep on the display screen. Whereas media alone isn’t answerable for inflicting consuming issues, it might set off these with a genetic predisposition or different elements to develop one.
After years of labor with an consuming dysfunction therapist, restoration coach and consuming dysfunction dietitian, I used to be in a position to get better from my consuming dysfunction.
Sitting right here at present, viewing the ANTM documentary on a grey velvet sofa, I’m an consuming dysfunction therapist, founding father of The Consuming Dysfunction Heart and a married mother of two little youngsters.
My perspective whereas watching the present has very a lot shifted from that of the 16-year-old woman who was viewing ANTM from my dad and mom’ home. Twenty years later, many people can now see simply how poisonous that present and the final tradition of the 2000s have been when it got here to the weight-reduction plan and anti-fat bias within the media.
Sadly, it’s my perception that 20 years from now, we can be wanting again on the current day with related discomfort. I want we might look again and discuss how a lot has improved, however there’s nonetheless thus far to go.
Excessive thinness is being promoted within the media, and weight reduction (now typically aided by GLP-1s like Ozempic) continues to be praised. As we speak, the “Make America Wholesome Once more” motion is touting dangerous rhetoric demonizing processed meals and selling a really black-and-white mentality.
I actually hope for the sake of my youngsters and others that the ANTM documentary serves as a wake-up name. Simply because one thing is normalized in society doesn’t imply it’s mentally or bodily wholesome. We actually have to look with a crucial eye at how our society continues to advertise anti-fat bias and weight-reduction plan tradition. The following technology wants us to do higher.
Jennifer Rollin, MSW, LCSW-C, is a therapist and the founding father of The Consuming Dysfunction Heart. She makes a speciality of remedy for teenagers and adults with anorexia, bulimia, binge consuming dysfunction, OSFED and physique picture considerations.
For those who’re fighting an consuming dysfunction, name or textual content 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for assist.
This text initially appeared on HuffPost in February 2026.
