Ab-solutely
Our abdominal muscles. Where have they gone? Do we still like them?
Despite appearances, we all have a “6-pack” set of abdominals — they’re just quite often hibernating beneath a layer of fat. If this is you, you’re certainly not alone.
More of us are struggling with weight gain than at any other time in our history, pushing our abs into permanent visual obscurity. In the 1950s, only about 10% of the American population was obese. Since then, obesity rates have skyrocketed. A recent CDC report indicated that as many as 45% of all American adults can now be classified as obese. Of course, America is not alone in this. Globally, obesity rates have tripled since the 1970s, with 13% obesity and nearly 39% of all adults over 18, considered overweight or obese. Ironically, obesity has taken over starvation as the dietary affliction for the world’s poor. Poor diets with excess sugary, salty, high-caloric processed foods are creating havoc within the world’s lower socioeconomic populations. The World Health Organization warns that we are now seeing obesity being combined with malnutrition.
In our current world of plenty, one wonders if it is more challenging than ever to attain a trim waistline? In their book, Hardwired: How Our Instincts to Be Healthy Are Making Us Sick, Drs. Robert Barrett and Louis Francescutti, argue that our modern world and its rapid pace of change is the reason it is more difficult to be healthy now, than at other times in our human history. Our slow biological evolution, which was honed for survival, is doing precisely what it was evolved to do — craving sugar, fat, and salt. But whereas our ancient ancestors would have relished the finding of a single carrot, with all its sugary sweetness, we are now surrounded by a bounty of sugary and fatty delights. A large slurpy can have anywhere from 21-38 spoonfuls of sugar — more than you could hold cupped in two hands.
A large slurpy can have anywhere from 21 to 38 spoonfuls of sugar — more sugar cubes than you could hold in your cupped hands.
The question is: given the realities of our higher body fat levels and our new world of plenty, are we on a course to adjust or standard of health and beauty? If chiseled 6-packs ultimately become so exceedingly rare, or even go the way of the dodo bird, do we live in a state of perpetual dissatisfaction or do we readjust the bar, so that our definition of what good health or average fitness looks like?
Of course, “health” is not skin deep and we know that our body chemistry — as can be measured by your doctor — is the real evidence of health status. Arguably, one can have a little layer of cushioning around their mid-sections and have beautiful blood chemistry. So, putting that aside, are there other biological reasons why a sculpted mid-section is desirable?
If we are to put blood chemistry aside for a moment, recognizing it as the gold standard of health measurement, then we enter the domain of physical fitness as a means to normal function (strength, agility, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness) — and, of course,, the amorphous world of physical attraction.
Throughout human history, different times and different cultures have brought about various ideas of what ideal beauty looks like. In many modern societies, this beauty standard for body type has changed with surprising speed — and, in recent times, with social media as an accelerant. When Rubens painted Venus in the mid-1600s, her frame was depicted with exaggerated girth and curves — a body type that, at the time, symbolized prosperity. After all, who else but a wealthy person could eat enough food to actually gain weight?
Venus and Adonis (1635). Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).
Fast forward to today and the beauty standards seem to change with the weather — largely propelled by so-called social media influencers. We know this beauty to and fro is very much a reality for female beauty standards — but what about men?
With respect to mens’ physiques, there is “The Golden Ratio”, which harks back to Ancient Greece. Apparently, there is a mathematic science behind the perfect male body and it starts with the number 1.618. This is The Golden Ratio, and we evidence of it in Michelangelo’s statue David, and even in ancient architectural structures. The Great Pyramid of Giza, the Ancient Greek Parthenon, and even paintings of The Last Supper, all incorporate The Golden Ratio.
If one were to apply The Golden Ratio to the male physique, the shoulders would be 1.618 times bigger than the waist. As such, the smaller the waist, the less broad the shoulders have to be to satisfy the ratio. Conversely, men with bigger belt lines would need massively wide shoulders. It is important to note that The Golden Ratio has also been used to decipher beauty in faces; both male and female.
If this all sounds ridiculous, you may be right. Beauty standards change.
A recent study of women’s preferences for male physiques discovered that regular exposure to men with higher body fat levels, resulted in an increased attraction to slightly heavier men. In short, repeated exposure to obesity seems to increase our attraction to overweight people. This may well have given rise to the so-called “Dad Bod”, in which carrying a few extra pounds of insulation was considered sexy by many.
There may be some science to back this up as well. It usually requires strict adherence to a rather extreme diet in order for a man (or woman) to walk around with a chiseled 6-pack. Having such low body fat can actually put the individual at risk for immune system issues and even stress on internal organs.
Perhaps the idea of body positivity isn’t just a cultural meme — it is also a biological phenomenon. In the study cited, the researchers concluded that what we see as “normal” may influence our standard of beauty and attractiveness. Another study showed that both male and female observers tended to agree on what body composition is most attractive for males and females.
Ultimately, health is more important than physical appearance — and for both men and women, trying to chase some ideal body physique can lead to a host of potentially dangerous body dysmorphic issues.
It is important to note that many people suffer from excessive self-scrutiny of their perceived body image and sometimes resulting in negative self-imaging to the point where it inhibits normal daily activity or relationships. This is a problem and a bit of a dark rabbit hole that we can do down when we speak of beauty standards. It is important to be clear that “healthy” can be different than what we desire in terms of body image.
So, for men (and women), do those tight abs still matter? Maybe not. Ultimately, health is more important than physical appearance — and for both men and women, trying to chase some ideal body physique can lead to a host of potentially dangerous body dysmorphic issues.
The take-home is that we should all strive for optimum health and enjoy the body type that come with that, which may be different from person to person, depending on genetics and other factors .
If we look after ourselves with respect to some basic health guidelines, our jiggly tummies are bound to trim up.
For a healthy body (and slimmer midsection) follow these core principles:
Check with your doctor before starting any diet or fitness routine.
Start in the kitchen! Eat a Mediterranean style diet. (Good fats, no processed sugar, low mercury fish, and healthy grains). Have healthy snacks prepared ahead of time.
Don’t “super-size” your meals. Eat smaller portions.
Exercise daily. (Incorporate higher-intensity intervals for cardio (HIIT) and resistance training. Have a personal trainer get you started in the right direction.
Avoid all processed foods and all added sugar.
Reduce or eliminate alcohol.
Reduce stress and establish a good sleep routine to get 7+ hours per night.
It is important that we remember to understand that health and ideal physique — as portrayed on social media and some fitness magazines — are not always synonymous. Following a healthy lifestyle and making good choices will usually result in some sort of slimming, but rippling muscles and extremely low body fat tend not to the ideal for longterm health. Moreover, (if it matters), we now know that such body types are not even the most attractive or desirable — among all genders. Follow a healthy regime and enjoy the body you have.
This article does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the opinion of a medical professional before starting a nutrition or fitness program.