Joanna Rowsell talks body image: "being as skinny as possible isn’t necessarily healthy"

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Positive encouragement is great, bullying isn't -

And when does encouragement become bullying, very easy to encourage a bit too much, if that makes sense.

I see what you're saying, and in some respects I agree but I think articles like this do help.

I started writing a blog after going from a size 16, bmi of 29 etc to a size 8 from just cycling - the blog was my thoughts on generally how easy it is to turn your life around. I've had comments from many women and men following these early blog posts telling me that the articles have inspired them to start making positive steps to losing weight.

There is, as you say, a bit too much normalisation around larger weights. Yes, the public should not be so judgemental or harsh, but this isn't an excuse to allow oneself to gain weight through gluttony or laziness.

However, I think the general outlook on excersise and sports has changed in recent years, especially since the Olympics. When I was younger (and much fatter) there was a clear boundary between "sporty people" and everyone else. Nowdays sports is a bit more accepted culturally, across many more groups. This is encouraging for people who want to lose weight, and articles such as this do help as more young people are beginning to view sports as a trend rather than a chore.

Demographically it's acutally my generation that is the biggest problem, people who were brought up in the 80s and 90s were brought up on rubbish, we've carried this forward and unfortunately for some that's meant bad habits haven't died.

I'm not sure how we could combat this, to be honest. Without having supermarkets and media on board it's impossible. Shit food is too cheaply and easily accessible, and my generation are too damn lazy to cook from scratch.

Positive encouragement is great, bullying isn't - if people feel good about themselves they continue that trend, but if someone who likes food is being treated negatively the first thing they're going to do is reach for the comfort food.

Sadly the messages published for the benefit of a particular group of people, are typically ignored by that group and listened to by people those messages were never intended for.

So... there are far too many fatties out there, who are damaging their health through their gluttony. However, any publicity out there trying to educate these people falls on deaf ears (within target group) and is instead listened to by those body conscious folk, who will become ever more focused.

And then the cynical world of health and fashion will poisonously twist those messages to basically fuel their industry.

We have a massive issue with obesity in the country, and whilst I agree with sentiments in the article, this needs addressing.

I heard once, that the average british woman is now a size 16, so all talk of anyone under that average is merely glorification of an unrealistic ideal... I say no, the average british woman is simply fat.

Don't get me wrong, it's exactly the same with men... however men don't just use some random numbers to tell us if we are fashionably thin or not.

Looking at the number of lumpen fatties thundering around Saltash this afternoon I think your average British girl couldn't give a damn about body image. Enforced PE five times a week, regular weigh-ins, a banning of all processed food and regular fat level tests would do wonders for the body images of our young. It would be like a scene from Triumph of the Will.

Absolutely agree. It gets really bad for that over here, Island mentality! One thing I miss about London is the anonymity

I think young people nowdays seem to be evolving into more accepting individuals, though. Back in the day when I were a goth it was a real struggle to be yourself in public without gangs of wee scallies hurling abuse at you. Nowdays it seems to be a bit cooler to be different....but then at the same time, regardless of fashion I think the public still focus far too heavily on body image.

Too true, women can be scornful and pretty hideous towards each other!

You just can't seem to 'get it right' in this day and age, there's always going to be people who look down on everything - it's those people who are wasting their own energy being miserable about other people, more fool them I'd say.

I'm happy resigning myself to the "changes dress size more than her socks, has no fashion sense, rides whatever bike she likes, hairs falling out, eyebrows are getting hairier, eats whatever and swears when she feels like it" category.

leontien van morsel is a story that people need to be aware of, loosing weight is fine, but knowing when to stop is far harder and more important.

Don't know how true it is, was told a story, cycling manager went from mens to womens team and quickly realised that some comments, "move your fat arse" which might have been innocuous to a man, were taken in completely the wrong way by the women.

And it is the media that has to take a huge part of the blame, and to be honest a huge part of the problem is Women abusing Women.

So often the article will criticise for being fat, but in the next sentence criticise for being too thin, or not eating enough. I know someone who used to worry that cycling might mean they developed leg muscles and appear fat!

It was clear from watching the Women's Tour that the top Women riders are a real mix of body shapes - all look much healthier than their male counterparts! (who often look like they've escaped from a fascist "health camp")

3 Cheers for the modern Women racers! Massive role models for the young & not so young!

There is no denying it Joanna is a wonderful person. Many people will attest to her wonderful persona.

I'd really like her to be in charge of British Cycling when she hangs up her wheels. I hope I am not the only one that thinks this way.

Ps if you're fat don't be too hard on yourself it is just the result of a modern day lifestyle.
I don't have any answers for our modern day existence & I especially don't know how we can stop magazines and media in general obsessing about starving stick like women.
Maybe the main problem is food these days is a product rather than actual food that should go in your body.
We are all responsible for what goes in our mouths but the overall pressure on young women and men these days to be thin is not healthy.

I like a backside you can rest a pint on and park your bike in.

Lady cyclists tick those boxes.

She's such a lovely person, she really does deserve all the success she's had, and certainly seems to have her head screwed on properly.
I think if anyone should be allowed to eat chocolate it's her, it certainly hasn't slowed her down.

Literally my favourite sportswoman in.the.world <3

I've suffered with both weight problems and have pretty hectic alopecia at the moment and it's people as human and inspirational as Jo that makes me sit there and think "fuck it, it's alright". 6 years ago I'd have been a crumbling mess if I'd have lost my hair!

It's so refreshing to have someone so genuinely sound in the sports limelight at the moment. Good no fuss no frills proper awesome lass.

She's gorgeous too!

I hope JR feels the love from the masses. She deserves it.

I like big butts, I can't deny.

I like big boobs too, I really don't get why being skinny is seen as in ideal. I wish women didn't worry so much about body image so much, everyone should be able to feel happy the way they are.

Go Jo!

Another huge fan here.

http://www.joannarowsell.com/results/

Fabulous. She's achieved so much in such a short time.

She rode our open 25 last year (and smashed my PB). Lovely person and completely awesome.

I've got the "eat what you like" bit down pat but I am struggling with pedalling it off.

Jo came to Shropshire recently. She rode a 10 mile time trial on the Saturday and the Shrewsbury GP crit race on the Sunday. On both occasions she was gracious and accomodating towards every single person who approached her. What a superb role model!

Big companies make obscene amounts of money making women feel insecure about their appearance, using every trick they can. I feel sorry for women who think they need to wear a load of makeup to leave the house and have waxing, plucking, tanning or whatever done just to look 'acceptable'.

Beautiful inside and out that lass.

They should all be obsessed with their power to weight ratios. Everyone knows that!

This is exactly the message young girls and women need to hear about body image! Another very good reason why we need more women's sport on mainstream TV. What could be better than portraying healthy body images in the media, shown at times when young girls can be inspired and influenced to lead healthy lifestyles and possibly also become part of a new generation of British sporting talent.