Question: Do you think the term “improving body composition” is potentially harmful?
This is something I’ve been thinking about over the past year or so. Namely, the implication that shedding body fat and/or gaining muscle is defined as an “improvement” (as it’s used both colloquially and in the scientific literature) doesn’t sit well with me. It seems to align heavily with the diet culture mentality that being leaner is ALWAYS better and that gaining body fat means you’ve “regressed,” which we know isn’t necessarily the case.
Admittedly, this is a term that I myself have used over the years – primarily because it’s widely-used and well-known. But I don’t like the idea that we continue doing something simply because “that’s the way it’s always been done”.
Lately, I’ve made an effort to use the term “changing body composition” instead when referring to any alterations to how much body fat and/or muscle a person carries.
Food for thought!
Apply for online coaching:
Follow me:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram