There's something I don't talk about enough: the pressure to look a certain way when you work in fitness or wellness.

Every corner of this industry has its own unspoken "ideal." The heavily muscled, lean CrossFit athlete. The tall, slender equestrian. The runner with visibly low body fat. The wellness professional who "looks the part" before they've said a single word about their qualifications.

For years, that pressure got into my head. I wanted to look a certain way to fit what certain athletic communities expected of me. I worried that if I didn't look the part, I'd be seen as less credible. I stressed over weight gain, over any change in my appearance that might "give away" that I wasn't an expert after all.

Because I've heard the comments about others. "That physical therapist obviously doesn't care about their health.""How can that physician take care of patients when they clearly don't take care of themselves?" I'd imagine those same sentences being said about me, and it shaped how I saw my own body for a long time.

Here's what I know now: appearance is not a determinant of worth, health, or credibility.

The appearance-competence myth is real - and it's been studied

This isn't just a feeling I had. Researchers have actually measured it. In one study published in the International Journal of Obesity, patients rated physicians described as overweight or obese as less trustworthy and less credible than physicians described as normal weight and said they'd be more likely to switch providers based on weight alone, regardless of the physician's actual qualifications or care. Other research on physician appearance has found that patients form snap judgments about a provider's competence from something as simple as a photo, and that women in medicine in particular face harsher, more specific appearance expectations than their male colleagues.

None of that has anything to do with clinical skill. It's bias, plain and simple and it's just as present in the fitness and wellness world as it is in medicine. A trainer, chiropractor, or coach's body size or shape tells you nothing about their expertise, their evidence base, or how much they care about their clients. But the pressure to look a certain way in order to be believed is very real, and it takes a toll on the people delivering your care.

What positive body image actually is (and isn't)

For a long time, "positive body image" got flattened into two extremes: either "I don't care what my body looks like" or "I look a certain way, so I must be healthy." Neither of those is accurate.

Body image researchers Tracy Tylka and Nichole Wood-Barcalow, who developed much of the framework the field now uses, describe positive body image as something much more layered than appearance satisfaction. It includes:

• Holding a favorable, respectful view of your body - not because it looks a certain way, but because it's yours
• Accepting your body, including the features you might not have chosen
• Caring for your body by engaging in health behaviors that support it, not punish it
• Filtering out unrealistic ideals - actively rejecting the media and industry standards that don't reflect real, healthy bodies

Their research also found that positive body image isn't simply the absence of negative body image - it's its own protective factor, associated with things like lower depression, more intuitive eating, and less appearance-driven exercise.

In plain terms: positive, healthy body image doesn't sound like "I love how I look." It sounds like "I maintain self-respect and keep up with healthy behaviors, even on the days I'm unhappy with how I look." That's a much more sustainable (and much more human) standard to hold yourself to.

Appreciate function, not just form

You've probably heard the phrase "appreciate what your body can do, not what it looks like." It's good advice but it's usually applied only to physical performance. Researchers actually have a name for this: functionality appreciation, defined as respecting and honoring your body for what it's capable of doing, beyond just its appearance. Studies using the Functionality Appreciation Scale have found that people who practice this tend to report fewer disordered eating behaviors, less body dissatisfaction, and greater overall well-being.

So yes, appreciate that your body can lift your kids, get you up that hiking trail, or carry in the groceries. But don't stop at the physical. Appreciate that you can:

• Get lost in a book for an afternoon
• Stop and actually smell the flowers
• Knit a hat for someone you love
• Feel the breeze on your skin and just notice it

You are so much more than your physical appearance, and so is your health, and so is your worth as a person or a professional.

If you've ever felt like your body had to look a certain way before you'd trust it or before you'd feel worthy of care, movement, or rest - you're not alone, and it's not a personal failing. It's the predictable result of the messages we're surrounded by every day.

Part of my work as a chiropractor and pelvic health provider is helping people rebuild a relationship with their bodies that isn't rooted in appearance or perfection, instead, one based on function, respect, and what actually makes you feel well. If that's something you're navigating, I'd love to help.

​Schedule a free discovery call and let's talk about whether it's the right fit for you.
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With peace and love,

Dr. Ellyn Halley, DC, Doula, Coach
​Doc Halley Solutions​

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**Disclaimer: The content in this email is not intended to be medical advice. The content here is for informational purposes only. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment options.