One of the beautiful things about human beings, women and men alike, is that we are so physically diverse. We were born with genetic differences that determine everything from the color of our eyes, to our height and body type. Our lifestyles also impact our physical appearance, based on what we eat, how much we exercise, and the amount of time we spend outdoors. The purpose of our site is not to grab the pitchforks and persecute anyone –no matter what their body type is. Relax, slender girls, we are not out to get you! Our mission is to promote physical health, not attack anyone because of their body type. Because we have a very bold title, it’s easy to assume that we want to put down women that are smaller of frame. However, we are attempting to change the industry, not women themselves.

In our society, thinness is something that is desired, if not expected of women, especially those that spend their time in the spotlight. This is what causes young women to develop unhealthy images of themselves, and what they are supposed to be. Those of you that are slender based on genetics, or simply on your eating habits, aren’t necessarily unhealthy. If you eat a balanced diet and get plenty of exercise, who’s to say that you can’t be a picture of fitness, health, and empowerment? We are all about loving who you are, so if you practice healthy habits and maintain a weight that is proper for your body, you are a natural part of the movement we are promoting.

At Healthy is the New Skinny, we make it a point to define and explain what it is to be healthy. In modern society, one of the best compliments you can receive is to be referred to as skinny. Contrary to popular belief, the term skinny was not always a compliment. According to the dictionary definition, the true meaning of the word skinny is “very lean or thin; emaciated”. Synonyms for that word are meager, reduced, minimal, gaunt, lanky, and scrawny. Would you appreciate it if someone called you emaciated, minimal or scrawny? Probably not. Another term you should familiarize yourself with is what’s called “industry skinny”. This is a physical state that young women strive for due to the media’s emphasis on thinness, and the demands made by agents and designers. In this case, women who are considered “industry skinny” are typically below their healthy weight class, and have achieved that state using unhealthy means. When you hear us refer to the term “skinny” we are actually going by industry standards for models, which are the set requirements by agents for girls to be 5’9″ – 6′ tall with measurements 32/24/33. Those measurements, excluding the height, are actually the average measurements for a seven year old. The perception of skinny in the industry is different than the average perspective in real life, where women who are considered thin to the eye are plus-size on camera. So for all of you women who are fit, healthy, and happy, we want you to be a part of this movement, so that we can see more models of various sizes and shapes.

Being overweight is just as negative and unhealthy as being underweight, which is why we are attempting to teach women of all ages not to punish their bodies with too much food, or lack thereof. Starving your body of nutrients to fit the picture of what the media believes is beautiful can cause you serious long-term harm.

So, in essence, discover which state you are the happiest in. If you have a fast metabolism, don’t feel obligated to overeat in order to escape accusing stares or negative comments. If you have a naturally curvy figure, why fight it? Enjoy having the body that you were blessed with, and stay healthy by exercising and eating right. Ignore those that dare to call you too skinny or too fat, because you are exactly what you are supposed to be; healthy, beautiful, and perfectly un-perfected.

View the photos above to catch a glimpse of what is considered industry skinny. The physical states that these models hold are physically unattainable for most women, because only 2% of the population fits that archetype.