{"id":480988,"date":"2026-10-30T02:56:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T02:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/480988\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T02:56:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T02:56:08","slug":"stop-halloween-body-toxicity-the-daily-texan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/480988\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop Halloween body toxicity \u2013 The Daily Texan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Stop<\/a> <\/p>\n

One of the most anticipated<\/a> holidays is just around the corner: Halloween. But for students living with an eating disorder, Halloween can be a living nightmare<\/a>. Those with pre-existing body image issues may feel additional pressure to conform to the \u201cidealized\u201d body type, leading to unhealthy restriction and fears surrounding certain foods. Others may struggle with having self-control around candy and seasonal food items.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSocial media has \u2026 created this homogenization, where it\u2019s expected that everyone fits into this cookie cutter model, and I think that especially for Halloween and how we dress ourselves and express ourselves for the holiday,\u201d said Vipin Eapen, a biomedical engineering senior and former director of Student Government\u2019s Mental Health Agency<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHalloween body<\/a>,\u201d a term coined by Gen Z to describe the ideal hourglass figure for costumes,\u00a0 represents the unrealistic standards pushed on social media. In fact, if you look up \u201ccostume inspiration<\/a>\u201d on TikTok, there\u2019s a consistent pattern of revealing costumes emphasizing certain parts of the body.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Not having a diagnosed eating disorder is not a reason to dismiss anxiety about body image and eating fixations. Studies have found that social media creates a culture of body comparison<\/a>, which inflicts a negative impact on users. College students<\/a> are especially vulnerable to developing poor eating habits like binging or skipping meals due to the pressures of independent living, a heavier workload and navigating a new social environment. Halloween and midterm season only exacerbate these feelings.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just students with a diagnosed eating disorder that might be suffering from body issues, especially when you have things like Halloween and all the stressors \u2026 like exams, peer influence and everything,\u201d Eapen said. \u201cIt\u2019s really easy to develop an unhealthy idea of what you might have to look like, especially when you\u2019re catering to the expectations of other people.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite the pressure surrounding the Halloween season, it\u2019s vital to remember that the clothes you wear don\u2019t define your entire costume. If you don\u2019t feel comfortable in revealing clothes, emphasize other parts like your hair, makeup and accessories. There are over 2.9 million<\/a> videos on TikTok that provide unique makeup tutorials. You don\u2019t have to dress like everyone else to feel confident.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like this idea of \u2018I have to exercise to go out\u2019 is a terrible thing,\u201d said Monica Milonovich, an associate professor of nutrition. \u201cWith respect to Halloween costumes: pick a costume that fits your body. Don\u2019t make your body try to fit a costume. What\u2019s going to make you feel really good and powerful on that night? You\u2019re supposed to have fun, and you want to feel good. What better way to feel good than picking something that fits you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

UT also has many resources for students who may be struggling with their eating habits this season. Healthyhorns\u2019 Mindful Eating<\/a> team consists of licensed dietitians, counselors and physicians who are readily available to meet with students. Healthyhorns hosts free nutrition workshops<\/a> throughout the semester for students to learn how to build a balanced diet, along with one-on-one evaluation sessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Enjoy Halloween. It only comes once a year. Just remember that your body isn\u2019t the costume.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Messner is a public affairs freshman from Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/p>\n