A RECENT study has revealed that a growing number of Americans feel the need to get in shape before heading off on vacation. The poll, which surveyed 2,000 US adults, found that Gen Z and Millennials feel the most pressure to lose weight or get fit , citing the influence of social media for their desire to glow up ahead of their getaways. Regarding planning and getting ready for vacation, 37% of survey respondents claim they feel pressured to lose weight or look a certain way before their travels .
The study suggests that while all generations feel some social pressure or anxiety to look their best just before their travels, younger generations are more likely to want to look their best due to their constant and consistent exposure to social media. Commissioned by Forbes Health and conducted by market research company OnePoll, the survey found that 51% of Gen Z , or those born between 1997 and 2012, "feel the most pressure to get fit or look a certain way" ahead of their vacations, with 52% pointing to social media as the source of the pressure. Of course, the growing popularity of social media is nothing new, nor are the unrealistic standards it sets around appearance.
Read More On Health & Fitness From beauty filters to Facetune, celebrities , influencers , and even everyday teens and adults have been known to alter their appearance on apps like Instagram and TikTok . Millennials , born between 1981 and 1996, also feel the need to shape up before their travels, with 42% claiming they've felt pressured to lose weight or get fit before their holiday. On the other hand, older generations, like Gen X and baby boomers , seem to give less thought to their weight and appearance ahead of their time off.
Just 35% of Gen X, those born between 1965 and 1980, and 23% of baby boomers, those born between 1955 and 1964, reported feeling the need to lose weight or shape up before their travels. Most read in The US Sun The survey also found that significant differences exist among genders, with 42% of women more likely to feel pressured to achieve a certain look compared to 31% of men. Women were also more likely to feel unhappy with their body image or overall appearance across all generations, with 39% of women claiming they were "dissatisfied" with their appearance compared to just 22% of men.
The poll also indicated that the type of vacation also matters, with those going on summer, beach, or tropical getaways feeling more pressure to look "good" than those going on city vacations or adventure-centered holidays, like skiing or hiking. And, while social media is by and large one of the biggest culprits of the pressure to look a certain type of way, especially for Gen Z and Millennials, the survey also found respondents were most likely to feel worried about being judged by others based on their vacation weight and appearance. The stats showed respondents also felt more judgment when vacationing with their families (56%), as opposed to their friends (52%), or significant others (43%).
The most sobering statistic uncovered in the poll found that 56% of respondents, regardless of age, have either avoided going on vacation or have been less enthusiastic about their plans because of the way they looked or felt about their appearance. Overall, respondents cited five key reasons behind their pressures to achieve a certain "goal Fear of judgement from other people (61%) Societal expectations to look a certain way in specific outfits, e.g.
a "bikini body" (47%) Influence from social media, e.g. photos and videos of how others look on vacation (31%) Previous comments experienced or received about their body, e.
g. their weight or appearance (30%) Pressures from advertising or marketing campaigns, like those on TV, social media, or magazines (15%) Olivia Verhulst, a New York -based psychotherapist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member, says "unrealistic beauty and body standards" are especially "rampant" in the summer months, the prime vacationing season. “Getting your ‘summer body’ is one of those messages that perpetuate the idea that there’s a gold standard for how you need to present when the air is hot and our bodies may be more visible,” Verhulst added.
Still, while body image and self-esteem issues may compound ahead of a major event, like a vacation, only about 31% of respondents claim to feel "somewhat or very dissatisfied" with their body image, compared to 51% who claim to feel "somewhat or very satisfied." In an interesting twist, younger generations were actually more likely to be happier about their appearance than their older counterparts. Just 21% of Gen Z and 26% of Millennials reported feeling unsatisfied with their appearance, compared to 38% of baby boomers and 37% of Gen X.
However, the same trend of women tending to be more unhappy v. men continued, with 39% of female respondents reporting that they were unhappy with their body image compared to 22% of men. Still, it's interesting to note that despite their prolonged exposure to social media, and their desire to look their best during vacations – likely for an aesthetically pleasing Instagram photo – younger generations still report being more satisfied or happy with their body image.
Judy Ho, Ph.D., a triple board-certified and licensed clinical and forensic neuropsychologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member, says the disconnect exists "between knowing one should love their body and seeing carefully crafted images of others on social media.
" “There may be a form of imposter syndrome going on where they are trying to give themselves body positive messages, but when encountering the plethora of ‘perfect bodies’ on social media, they feel incongruent and negative feelings and thoughts arise,” Dr. Ho added. And, while younger respondents may have a higher sense of self-worth, just the idea of going on vacation can ramp up negative thoughts and self-talk.
42% of Gen Z and 39% of Millennials noted that they've been unable to enjoy a vacation due to their own feelings about their bodies, compared to just 32% of Gen X and 19% of baby boomers. Women, again, are less likely to enjoy their vacations if they're unhappy with their appearance (40%) compared to men (24%). 53% of women also reported feeling pressured to look a certain way in specific outfits, like swimsuits and shorts, compared to 39% of men.
Knowing that many respondents are more prone to work out or alter their diets ahead of their vacation, the study also asked whether these healthy – or sometimes not-so-healthy – habits continue during the trip itself. Only 38% of respondents said they maintain their diet or exercise routine while on their getaway, citing a need to take a break from their fitness regimen . 55% of respondents said they maintain their "healthy habits" leading up to the vacation, while 57% noted that they pick up where they left off after coming back home.
Sabrina Romanoff, a Harvard-trained clinical psychologist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member, says taking a break from a healthy lifestyle every now and then – like as a week-long vacation – can actually help individuals in the long run. “By allowing yourself time to reset and recharge without the worry of constricting your diet or meeting exercise goals, you can fully be present and enjoy your vacation,” Dr. Romanoff said.
“You also can provide yourself with the opportunity to refocus on these aspects of your health with a full battery, excitement, and enjoyment when you return home," she added. There's nothing wrong with wanting to look your best during a vacation. Read More on The US Sun Still, it's important to be mindful that the "perfect summer body" is more of a myth than an achievable goal.
Shifting your mindset to feeling your best – physically and mentally – will likely make your vacation more enjoyable and stress-free..
