The “legging legs” trend is blocked from TikTok. Experts explain what it is and why it’s “problematic.”

“Legging legs” is the newest body-focused time period getting used on social media — and a few are calling the pattern harmful and dangerous. The phrase, which is blocked from search on TikTok, caught on as an outline of the “excellent” or “supreme” measurement and form of legs for sporting leggings, selling what consultants say might be an unhealthy physique picture.

It seems to be a brand new spin on the internet-fueled “thigh hole” craze from round 2013, during which younger ladies and teenagers pursued an elusive and presumably harmful objective of being slender sufficient for his or her thighs to not contact when standing with their toes collectively. 

Social media traits that draw consideration to physique form and look can have each a detrimental impact on these already impacted by consuming problems and in addition put others in danger, says Elizabet Altunkara, director of training on the Nationwide Consuming Problems Affiliation.

What are “legging legs”?

“The brand new pattern ‘legging legs’ is problematic because it means that solely sure physique sorts are in a position to put on a chunk of clothes — an concept that promotes the looks supreme now we have all been uncovered to and whose internalization might put folks in danger to develop an consuming dysfunction,” she says.

Dr. Samantha DeCaro, director of medical outreach and training at The Renfrew Middle, a community of consuming dysfunction remedy amenities, calls the pattern “yet one more inappropriate technique to physique disgrace people.”

“A majority of these traits are harmful,” she says. “Physique dissatisfaction is a significant danger issue within the improvement and upkeep of an consuming dysfunction.”

Whereas some “legging legs” movies circulating on social media did function slim legs and thigh gaps, the pattern would not specify the precise customary for what defines the “legging legs” class — seemingly leaving the label as much as others’ judgment. Nevertheless it broadly highlights the identical view of sure physique beliefs as the sooner “thigh hole” pattern.

TikTok has not responded to CBS Information’ request for remark, nevertheless it seems the corporate has blocked the time period and hashtag from the app. A search of “legging legs” on TikTok would not return video outcomes — as a substitute, the app gives a hyperlink to assets about consuming problems.

“Whereas we applaud TikTok for eradicating the hashtag and changing it with hyperlinks to consuming dysfunction assets, house must be given for continued conversations and training on the truth that self-worth will not be decided by ones’ our bodies,” DeCaro says.

The underside line? No matter their physique form and measurement, folks ought to be capable to put on what they like with out judgment. 

“Leggings are for everybody, not solely for a particular physique sort,” Altunkara says.

If you happen to or somebody you recognize is combating physique picture or consuming issues, the Nationwide Consuming Problems Affiliation’s toll-free and confidential helpline is obtainable by telephone or textual content at 1-800-931-2237 or by click-to-chat message at nationaleatingdisorders.org/helpline. For twenty-four/7 disaster conditions, textual content “NEDA” to 741-741.