Home Fashion The thigh gap is now a trend courtesy of skinny models.

The thigh gap is now a trend courtesy of skinny models.

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the thigh gap
the thigh gap
the thigh gap

Welcome to the latest disturbing trend amongst young women looking to emulate social status and desire: ‘the thigh gap.’

It seems young women of late have become enamored with the ever revolving parade of skinny models who are able to show off what has euphemistically become known as the thigh gap.

The look ostensibly demands one’s legs do not touch above the knees. So popular has the fixation become that it has even stirred a widely followed twitter handle, the ‘thigh gap’ which to date has more than 700 000 followers who share pictures of models and women who have been able to achieve the ‘perfect’ gap.

Yet the question is how perfect is the thigh gap and are young women doing themselves a disservice playing homage to such aspirations?

In fact so desired is the look, some women have taken to lunchtime liposuction treatments for their thighs as a short-cut to this super skinny look.

The UK’s dailymail tells how one clinic has been able to cash in on the fixation.

London’s Harley Street cosmetic clinic LoveLite has seen a 240 per cent rise in demand for their new fat freezing treatment as girls try to achieve a thigh gap.

The dailymail goes on to explain that lipoglaze is a non-invasive treatment that targets stubborn areas of fat which to date has been popular for fat reduction on the lower stomach.

Cara Delevingne and Candice Swanepoel
Cara Delevingne and Candice Swanepoel

Yet thanks to the abundant celebration of uber thin models ( despite some media outlet’s effort at critical regard, it seems the opposite has become the play), Cara Delevingne and Candice Swanepoel hitting the catwalks and our public consciousness there has been a surge in the number of women getting treatment on their inner thighs.

Despite claiming that lipoglaze is a harmless procedure, not everyone is sold.

Tells Beat (Beat Eating Disorders), a eating disorder charity such claims are unrealistic and mostly unachievable for healthy persons.

Offers Beat’s Chief Executive Susan Ringwood: ‘Hardly anyone has a ‘Thigh gap’ without being underweight, or not yet fully adult, yet most of the pictures we see in adverts show grown women with thighs that do not meet when they stand upright.

‘In almost every case, this is an effect of photo-shopping: it isn’t real, and it isn’t achievable in healthy ways. 

‘Our bodies come in a wonderful natural variety of shapes and sizes – we need to be able to appreciate and admire them for what they are, not waste our lives chasing a fake ideal.’

For her part LoveLite director Debra Robson responded as follows:

‘We would not treat anyone under 18 and we require proof of age from clients.

‘We also assess every client at a consultation prior to any treatment taking place. 

‘During that assessment if we feel they are underweight, or have weight issues or have previously suffered from weight loss issues we will not treat them.’

the thigh gap
the thigh gap

And then there was this comment via the web that made me wonder as well:

Excuse me, there are many healthy women who eat balanced diets and lead a healthy life free from ‘freezing fat’ whom still possess the ‘thigh gap’. Therefore, to say that the thigh gap is ‘unrealistic’ and ‘disturbing’ is highly offensive to those of us who physically cannot put on weight. Hence, do not insult those who do have a thigh gap just to comfort those that have touching thighs. It is becoming absurd that being a larger size is deemed more desirable and ‘achievable’ compared to slimmer women, when both are equally as healthy. Why is it right to make skinny women feel abnormal, but deemed a form of bullying or abuse if any comment is passed on larger sized individuals? Put things into perspective, please. Stop victimising those of us who are thin without a thinspiration obsession.

top and bottom images found here

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Bravo to you for including that last note/paragraph in your article. Many of these scathing reviews will only give the naysayers spotlight. But there is most definitely a way to reduce body fat (especially stubborn body fat) and lean out without starving or developing an eating disorder. Just take a look at female bodybuilders who lean down to 10% – but due to their heavy weight lifting routines also pack on a lot of muscle and bulk.

    My book ‘The Thigh Gap Hack’ tackles the subject of losing stubborn body fat by utilizing the tried and true hacks or tricks that will warrant results, whether that be unsightly fat from the thighs (who really liked dimples/cellulite/rubbing thighs), the upper/lower abs or the kangaroo pouch and the love handles!

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