The diet and fitness culture of past generations has made a comeback in recent years on social media, with #thatgirl and other trends. Many young people, however, view these trends as harmful and want to push back on what they believe is a toxic wellness culture. Wellness need not be about rigid 5 a.m. exercise routines, kale smoothies and blissful perfection.
Instead, recent YPulse research shows that most young people believe “wellness can be anything that makes you feel good.” Seeking to redefine wellness in ways that make room for the messiness of human life, 70% of young people agree that “sometimes doing things that are not really healthy is part of self-care.” The central takeaway from the research is that young people want wellness to be less about physical perfection and more about mental health in a way that is inclusive of various body types and lifestyles.
As more young people reject what they see as toxic wellness trends on social media, how can the church empower them to see through the emotionally manipulative messaging trends they encounter there?