‘Perfect’ bodies are the opposite of being fit and healthy, warns former model

For many people out there, ‘perfect’ bodies means being fit and healthy' but that may really not be the case as former bikini model warns that the reverse may be the case.

Women today are making themselves seriously ill so they can post photos of their ripped and buff bodies under the rising phenomenon of the Instalean hashtag.

A former Brisbane bikini model Katie King has now warned that these “perfect” bodies are the polar opposite of being fit and healthy and are fuelling the serious epidemic of poor body image.

According to Katie who is a clinical ­nutritionist, she feels so much more healthy and happy in the “average” body she has today, rather than the perfectly toned, extremely lean physique that she showed off when competing as a sports model.

It was a one-time goal for me and I began the ­journey in 2013 with good self-esteem and reasonable expectations. But I paid a price for the next three years. I suffered from debilitating fatigue and my concentration and focus were rubbish. I was crying at the drop of a hat and my hormones were completely out of whack, she said.

The Butterfly Foundation warns that it is important not to perceive the images shared on Instagram as a benchmark for health or body shape.

Engaging in extreme ­dieting and exercise behaviours to achieve a certain weight or appearance is detrimental to health and we know this can lead to the development of an eating disorder, a spokeswoman said.

If certain sites make you feel uncomfortable or raise concerns about your own body image, ‘unfollow’ these and monitor changes in your mood, she said.

According to Mission Australia’s Youth Survey 2106, body image is among the top three personal concerns for young people.

Negative body image can result in isolation or destructive behaviours.

As a nutritionist, Ms King, now 31, says that just like she did, many of her clients sacrificed good health for a certain body shape.

We have got to redefine healthy and change perceptions, if not for our sake then for the sake of the children in our lives,” Ms King said.