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Slimmed down Oprah addresses Ozempic rumours

<p>Oprah Winfrey has addressed rumours about her impressive weight loss on the red carpet. </p> <p>The TV icon stunned at the premiere for the reboot of <em>The Color Purple</em>, walking the red carpet in a figure-hugging purple dress in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.</p> <p>While doing an interview with <a href="https://www.etonline.com/oprah-winfrey-reacts-to-her-physical-transformation-at-the-color-purple-premiere-exclusive-216118" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Entertainment Tonight</em></a>, the 69-year-old spoke candidly about her body transformation. </p> <p>ET host Kevin Frazier told Winfrey she was looking “divine in purple” and then asked, “What’s going on? Because if this is WeightWatchers, please, sign me up tonight!”</p> <p>“Well it’s not one thing, it’s everything … and I intend to keep it that way,” she replied, noting that she “was on that treadmill” hours before the premiere kicked off.</p> <p>Oprah's admission comes after her drastic weight loss was the subject of many rumours, with many people questioning whether she had used the weight loss drug to slim down. </p> <p>The former TV host did admit that she had contemplated the controversial weight loss injections, but ultimately decided against using it. </p> <p>“When I first started hearing about the weight loss drugs, at the same time, I was going through knee surgery, and I felt, ‘I’ve got to do this on my own,’” she explained on an episode of Oprah Daily’s The Life You Want: The State of Weight, which featured a panel of obesity specialists.</p> <p>“Because if I take the drug, that’s the easy way out.”</p> <p>Oprah has long been an ambassador for Weight Watchers, and said in 2015 when she first partnered with the company that her new lifestyle is "a way of living that’s so freeing". </p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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"Reunited at last": Slim Dusty's wife passes away

<p>Award-winning singer and songwriter Joy McKean has died at the age of 93. </p> <p>EMI Music confirmed the news of her death after a long battle with cancer, sharing that she died peacefully while surrounded by her family. </p> <p>McKean was the wife and manager of music legend Slim Dusty, with McKean writing many of his hit songs. </p> <p>Joy was the first ever recipient of the <span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">first Golden Guitar awarded at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 1973 for the song <em>Lights on the Hill</em>.</span></p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">The song was inspired by McKean's experience towing a heavy caravan up the then-notorious Devil's Pinch, near Guyra, on the New South Wales Northern Tablelands.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Alongside Slim Dusty, she produced more than 100 albums, sold more than eight million albums and earned 45 Golden Guitars over the course of her extraordinary career. </p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"She will be remembered as a pioneer in Australian music," the company statement said. </p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Golden Guitar and ARIA award-winner Fanny Lumsden took to social media to pay tribute to the icon.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Lumsden said she would "draw strength" from McKean as she continued to play her music in halls throughout regional Australia.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">"Thank you Joy," she wrote.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Many country music fans paid tribute to the late singer online, sharing their memories of listening to her music. </p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Others hoped "her and Slim are together again", saying they have been "reunited at last" in the afterlife. </p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">McKean is survived by her children Anne and David Kirkpatrick, four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.</p> <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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Danish palace cops backlash after announcing slimmed-down monarchy

<p dir="ltr">Tension is said to be running high in the Danish royal family after Prince Joachim claimed his children were given just five days’ notice that they would lose their royal titles following a decision made by their grandmother Queen Margrethe.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was given five days' notice to tell them. In May, I was presented with a plan which, by and large, was that when the children each turned 25, it would happen,” Prince Joachim said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Now I had only five days to tell them. Athena turns 11 in January.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In a bombshell announcement, the Danish Royal Household confirmed that Prince Joachim’s children would no longer be using the title of Prince or Princess of Denmark.</p> <p dir="ltr">Instead, they would be restricted to using the titles of Count, Countess or Comtesse of Monpezat from the start of next year.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In April 2008, Her Majesty the Queen conferred the titles of Count, Countess and Comtesse of Monpezat on her sons, their spouses and their descendants,” the statement, released yesterday, read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In May 2016, it was also announced that His Royal Highness Prince Christian, as the only one of the Queen's grandchildren, is expected to receive an annuity from the state as an adult.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As a natural extension of this, Her Majesty has decided that with effect from 1 January 2023, the descendants of His Royal Highness Prince Joachim can only use their titles as Count and Countess of Monpezat, as their previous titles as Prince and Princess of Denmark will lapse. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Prince Joachim's descendants will henceforth have to be addressed as Excellencies.”</p> <p dir="ltr">It was confirmed that Prince Joachim’s children would still maintain their places in the order of succession, but would be able to live their lives “without being limited by the special considerations and duties that a formal affiliation with the Royal House of Denmark as an institution involves”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The statement also hinted that the decision was designed to streamline the monarchy, which follows similar sentiments shared by King Charles II and other European royal households.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Prince Joachim, the youngest of Margrethe’s two sons, claimed his children were “harmed” by the news and that he was given little notice.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are all very sad. It's never fun to see your children being harmed. They are been put in a situation they do not understand,” he told Danish news outlet <em><a href="https://ekstrabladet.dk/underholdning/kongelige/danskekongelige/nu-reagerer-prins-joachim-mine-boern-er-gjort-fortraed/9447865" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ekstra Bladet</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 53-year-old royal, who is sixth in line to the throne, shares his two eldest sons Nikolai, 23, and Felix, 20, with his first wife Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksberg, and 13-year-old Henrik and 10-year-old Athena with his current wife, Princess Marie.</p> <p dir="ltr">Alexandra said the news was like a “bolt out of the blue” and that her two sons felt “ostracised” by their family.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them,” she told Danish magazine <em>Se og Hør</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">A spokesperson for the Countess told another news outlet that Prince Joachim only learnt of his children’s fate from an aide, with claims that Queen Margrethe didn’t speak to her son or grandchildren about the change.</p> <p dir="ltr">Queen Margrethe, who is celebrating her Golden Jubilee this year, defended the decision at an event in Copenhagen.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is a consideration I have had for quite a long time and I think it will be good for them in their future. That is the reason,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">In another statement, the Royal Household supported the Queen’s claims that it had been a long time coming while conceding that there are “many emotions at stake”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming,” it read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Since the announcement, there have been reports of an “ice-cold air” between the Queen and her grandchildren.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is ice-cold air between Queen Margrethe and her grandchildren after she decided that they will lose their titles as prince and princess from the New Year,” <em>Ekstra Bladet </em>reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The news, which has crushed both the four children and their parents, was not delivered by the queen herself.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They have not been called to Amalienborg for a cold coke and an explanation as to why they must henceforth be addressed as counts and countesses. Not even that far.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-486d1d06-7fff-1271-73e6-b9428358d057"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @detdanskekongehus (Instagram)</em></p>

Family & Pets

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8 of the best slimming style secrets

<p>One of the slightly less welcome side effects of ageing is a slower metabolism and thus greater difficulty when it comes to staying in shape – but that doesn’t mean you can’t look fabulous. We’ve always been told that “black is slimming,” but what other flattering fashion tricks are out there? Here are some we think you’ll find very effective.</p> <p><strong>1. Don’t be afraid of colour</strong> – Bored of black? Take a leap and opt for some colour – just make sure you’re wearing the same hue from top to toe. Not only will it make you look taller, but also brighter and leaner.</p> <p><strong>2. Know your necklines</strong> – Draw the eye away from problem areas by donning a V-neck (the deeper the better). It works as an arrow, pointing attention to the narrowest part of your body – the waist.</p> <p><strong>3. Layer up</strong> – Lots of short layers (like t-shirts, jumpers, short jackets) can make even the slimmest person look bulky, so in cooler months, opt for long pieces like trench coats, long vests and cardigans. Pair with long, straight-cut black pants for full effect.</p> <p><strong>4. Grab a belt</strong> – Belts do the same thing as V-necks – they draw attention to your torso’s tiniest feature. Use one to cinch a flowy top or dress to your waist and you’ll instantly look – and feel – much leaner.</p> <p><strong>5. Pointy pumps</strong> – Step into some pointed shoes (flats and heels are both fine) to instantly elongate and slim down your legs. They’re the perfect touch of class to take an outfit from day to evening. Bonus points if they’re a nude shade.</p> <p><strong>6. Add some “flare”</strong> – There’s nothing like a great pair of 70s-style flared jeans to add some flair to your outfit. Plus, the added volume at the base of your look balances out your whole body, making you appear smaller by comparison.</p> <p><strong>7. High-waists and short shirts</strong> – Don’t be afraid of a crop top. Pair one with a high-waisted skirt or pair of pants and not only will your midriff remain covered, but your legs will look longer and your waist will look tiny.</p> <p><strong>8. Hug that body</strong> – Figure-hugging pieces might seem counter-intuitive if you’re trying to minimise problem areas, but showing off your body’s shape will more likely highlight your best features rather than your worst. Try a high-waisted pencil skirt with a billowy blouse.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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The Beast shows off slimmed down figure

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Mark Labbett, known as The Beast from the popular quiz show<span> </span><em>The Chase</em><span> </span>has shown off his incredible weight loss to fans.</p> <p>He shared a snap on Instagram of himself dressed in a suit.</p> <p>“What’s more likely? Bit part in next<span> </span><em>Kingsman</em><span> </span>or Oddjob in the<span> </span><em>Goldfinger</em><span> </span>remake?,” Labbett wrote.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO8m38eslrk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO8m38eslrk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Mark Labbett (@markthebeastlabbett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Fans were shocked by the 55-year-old's transformation.</p> <p>“Looking fabulous,” one commented.</p> <p>Labbett revealed that his type 2 diabetes diagnosis inspired him to lose weight.</p> <p>“My colleague Paul Sinha also got the diagnosis and he rapidly lost two stone (12.7kg) and he went from being diabetic to pre or non-diabetic,” he told<span> </span><em>Loose Women.</em></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLH2VnSsjMt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLH2VnSsjMt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Mark Labbett (@markthebeastlabbett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I’m still eating very well – I’m just cutting out sugar because of the type 2 diabetes.”</p> <p>Labbett has documented his weight loss on Instagram in previous posts, much to the delight of fans.</p> </div> </div> </div>

News

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"Bringing the heat": Rebel Wilson flaunts slimmed down figure after 30kg weight loss

<p>Rebel Wilson has lost 30kg during her “year of health”.</p> <p>The week, the actress showed off her incredible figure as she spent time with Mrs Canada Globe, Lorelei Higgins.</p> <p>The 40-year-old wore skin-tight leggings with a black blouse, showing off her trim figure.</p> <p>Taking to Instagram to share multiple photos and videos, the two were seen spending time together at Wilson’s LA home.</p> <p>“Mrs Canada and I bringing the heat,” Rebel captioned a photo of the pair hanging near the outdoor fire pit.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIxCv53L6VA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIxCv53L6VA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Rebel Wilson (@rebelwilson)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“World peace,” she added as a hashtag.</p> <p>The Pitch Perfect star has been on a health journey this year, after setting a goal of reaching 75kg.</p> <p>Last month, she proudly announced that she had smashed that goal, showing the number 74.6 on a scale.</p> <p>“Hit my goal with one month to spare!” she wrote in the caption. “Even though it’s not about a weight number, it’s about being healthy, I needed a tangible measurement to have as a goal and that was 75 kilograms.”</p>

Body

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Slim and skinny: how access to TV is changing beauty ideals in rural Nicaragua

<p>Think about the last time you watched a film or picked up a magazine. Chances are the majority of models and actresses were young, beautiful and slim – or even underweight.</p> <p>Research shows that in films and TV programmes heavier characters are more likely to be lower status, the target of jokes and are less likely to be <a href="https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/276547">lead or romantic characters</a>. This sends a very clear message: that thinness is normal and desirable.</p> <p>For many young people, this emphasis on extreme thinness in women seems normal. But it’s actually relatively new and seems to have arisen in parallel with the growing cultural dominance of mass media – films, television and magazines. Models, for instance, became <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/pr0.1980.47.2.483">thinner across the latter half of the 20th century</a>, and are now <a href="https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/evolution-miss-universe/">considerably slimmer</a> than depictions of female beauty in preceding eras. Just as in the past when the development of shape-altering garments <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0123284">changed ideas about body shape</a>, the mass media now seems to have changed ideas about body size.</p> <p>Current body ideals in Western Europe and North America are also significantly slimmer than in other cultural groups, such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513899000070">Tanzanian hunter-gatherers</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513806000584">black South Africans</a> or <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1740144507000769">rural Malaysians</a>. And it’s been argued this large gap between the ideal female figure and most women’s own bodies is a key factor in the endemic levels of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders in countries such as <a href="https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/abs/10.1521/jscp.2009.28.1.9">the UK</a>.</p> <p>Body dissatisfaction and <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/wk/yco/2016/00000029/00000006/art00006">rates of disordered eating are increasing globally</a>, and the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11013-004-1067-5">spread of mass media may be one reason why</a>. But it’s a challenge to link increasing media access with changing body ideals – because as populations gain more access to media, they also change in other ways. They may become more urbanised, wealthier and have better access to nutrition – all of which can lead to <a href="http://www.mysmu.edu/faculty/normanli/Swamietal2010.pdf">differences in body ideals</a>.</p> <p><strong>The Nicaragua project</strong></p> <p>This is why we have spent three years running a <a href="http://www.dur.ac.uk/l.g.boothroyd/NEBP/">research project</a> in an area of rural Nicaragua – where access to mass media is often unrelated to urbanisation or nutrition.</p> <p>The government in Nicaragua has been increasing electrification of the rural Caribbean coast. This has led to a region where very similar neighbouring villages differ in whether or not the residents have access to mains electricity – and whether they can run televisions. There are no magazines in this region. And at the time of our research, very few residents had access to smart phones, making television viewing a good measure of total media access.</p> <p>We recruited 300 participants from seven villages around the region. Some villages had regular electricity supplies, others did not. Because the region is very ethnically diverse, we also balanced our sample across four main ethnic groups. Generally among our participants, those of Mestizo ethnicity – who have the highest levels of European heritage – tend to prefer slimmer figures than those of more indigenous or Afro-Caribbean heritage, such as the Miskitu, Garifuna and Creoles.</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000224">Our research found</a> that above and beyond ethnicity, those who watched more television preferred slimmer bodies. Specifically, our analysis suggested that people who watched approximately three hours of TV a week preferred a body one full point slimmer on the <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/">Body Mass Index</a> than someone who didn’t watch TV. On a woman of average height, that’s about a difference of three kilos. We also found the more people watched TV, the slimmer their preferred female body size became. This was true for both men and women.</p> <p><strong>Changing ideals</strong></p> <p>Over the three years, we also collected data from a small village without electricity. For a short period of time, one house in this village had a small TV powered by a solar panel. Residents were also able to watch TV for short periods of time if they travelled to other communities. We found that over the three years, villagers tended to favour thinner figures when they had been able to watch more TV, suggesting that real-time change may be happening in these communities.</p> <p>When we showed residents of two villages without TV images of typical or plus size media models, their preferences shifted in the immediate aftermath of viewing these images towards thinner figures. Again this was true for both men and women.</p> <p>By studying one population in depth, and by also having previously ruled out evidence for <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-08653-z">impacts of nutrition in this population</a>, we have been able to give the strongest evidence to date that visual media really does change people’s perception of the ideal female body.</p> <p>Our findings also support the argument that increasing global rates of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders are driven at least in part <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11013-004-1067-5">by the expansion of globalised mass media</a>.</p> <p>Of course, television is in many respects a valuable and important source of information. Our participants considered that besides entertainment, television gave them a vital link to the rest of Nicaragua, to political news, and lifesaving services such as storm warnings. But while it’s important that such benefits be maximised, threats to women’s body image must be minimised.</p> <p>Body positive education can help here, and this is something <a href="http://community.dur.ac.uk/l.g.boothroyd/NEBP/wellcome_body.html">we are working on with local groups</a>. But ultimately, media producers and commissioners must do a better job of diversifying their content to reflect a range of sizes and body types.</p> <p><em>Written by Lynda Boothroyd. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/slim-and-skinny-how-access-to-tv-is-changing-beauty-ideals-in-rural-nicaragua-128717">The Conversation.</a> </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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How George Calombaris stays slim filming MasterChef

<p>George Calombaris has been part of the <em>MasterChef Australia</em> DNA for the past 10 years as one of the judges on the show, alongside his esteemed colleagues Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan.</p> <p>Mentoring and judging each year’s talented contestants and home cooks is no mean feat, particularly all the dishes they whip up which the three judges have to eat in order to judge and score their fate.</p> <p>So, how does George manage to not gain mounds and mounds of pounds each season from eating mounds and mounds of food?</p> <p>The celebrity chef admits it takes a lot more discipline than you realise.</p> <p>“I can never resist! I’m addicted to great food,” George revealed to <em><a href="https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/fitness/mens-fitness/how-george-calombaris-stays-in-shape-while-filming-masterchef/news-story/e77d632613b73afdd847f42487ead639#itm=newscomau%7Chome%7Cv2-homepage-topstories%7C5%7Cheadline%7Chomepage%7Chomepage&amp;itmt=1529279627866">Body+Soul</a></em>.</p> <p>However, away from the cameras and off set, the 39-year-old has learned to resist digging into rich, carb-loaded foods.</p> <p>George said that as they eat “numerous dishes on set” that “additional meals aren’t necessary”.</p> <p><img width="498" height="335" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819248/2-george-calombaris_498x335.jpg" alt="2 George Calombaris"/></p> <p>His secret? He revealed he will instead eat “loads of green apples and loads of peppermint tea” when he’s not filming the reality TV show.</p> <p>He also admitted he loves eating Bolognese – but, wait for it, without the pasta.</p> <p>“I love eating a simple Bolognese without the pasta, loaded with vegetables that you can eat out of a bowl,” the <em>MasterChef</em> judge shared.</p> <p><span style="text-align: center;">The chef also ensures he moves his body by doing three sessions a week with a personal trainer.</span></p> <p>His trainer “is the only human-being who can get away with yelling at me,” George candidly admitted.</p> <p>For a man who is so passionate about food, surely there is one particular food he cannot resist when he’s away from the cameras?</p> <p>Ice-cream! “Once I start, I can’t stop,” The Press Club restaurant owner confessed.</p>

Body

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5 unique eating habits of slim people

<p>We all know people who appear to be able to eat anything and still manage to stay slim.</p> <p>A closer look reveals that there are unique eating habits slim people share. Here is what we can learn from them.</p> <p><strong>1. Being fussy with their food choices</strong></p> <p>Many slim people are fussy with their food choices and do not waste extra calories on foods they do not like, want or need. We do not have to eat everything that is served to us and sometimes it can pay off to be picky.</p> <p><strong>2. Tasting rather than binge eating</strong></p> <p>Most of the pleasure associated with eating comes from the first few mouthfuls. This means it is better to get into the habit of tasting desserts and treats rather than binge eating.</p> <p><strong>3. Eating slowly</strong></p> <p>When you eat slowly it gives your brain more time to register it is full. It is best to chew your food more and to place your knife and fork down between mouthfuls.</p> <p><strong>4. Eating only when hungry</strong></p> <p>It is easy to eat due to boredom but when people eat only when they are genuinely hungry it allows them to take control of their calorie intake.</p> <p><strong>5. Not dieting</strong></p> <p>Strict dieting can trigger feelings of deprivation, which can cause the brain to focus on what it is lacking, causing cravings and overeating. Rather than experimenting with a diet, it is best to control daily food decisions for long-term results.</p>

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