In Body By Science , we learn about a common misunderstanding.
You look around and you see bodybuilders and joggers. You feel that the body builders are too broad, and look rather stupid, but then the joggers look scrawny and miserable. Then you look at swimmers, they seem to have the best of both worlds. They have muscle and broad shoulders, but they aren’t buff. They seem to fit the ideal really well.
If you’ve ever gone for a swim at the local pool and felt like everyone was staring at you, don’t worry – it’s not just your imagination. It’s actually a phenomenon known as the swimmer’s body illusion, and it occurs when people compare their own bodies to those of professional athletes.
On the surface, it might not seem like such a big deal. After all, we all know that we’re not in the same league as professional athletes. However, the problem with the swimmer’s body illusion is that it can lead people to believe they are in better shape than they really are. As a result, they may forego regular checkups and screenings, thinking that they don’t need them because they’re “fit.”
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’re healthier than you are – get routine checkups and screenings to make sure you’re really as fit as you think you are.
How the Swimmer’s Body Illusion Works
The swimmer’s body illusion occurs because we tend to compare ourselves to others who are at the peak of physical condition. Studies have shown that people tend to overestimate their own physical fitness level when comparing themselves to professional athletes.
This is particularly true for men, who are more likely than women to overestimate their own physical fitness. In one study, researchers found that when men were shown photos of posters featuring either a male or female marathon runner, they were more likely to rate their own physical fitness level as higher if the photo featured a woman.
Why does this happen? The researchers believe it has to do with an evolutionary trait known as mate guarding. Studies have shown that when men perceive a potential threat to their mates, they respond by becoming more vigilant and protective. In other words, men are hardwired to feel like they need to defend their mates from other men – even if those other men pose no threat whatsoever.
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While the mate guarding response may have served our ancestors well, it doesn’t do us any favors in modern times. In fact, it can lead us to make poor decisions about our health – like skipping regular checkups and screenings because we think we don’t need them.
Don’t Let the Swimmer’s Body Illusion Fool You
If you’ve ever looked at a photo of a professional athlete and thought to yourself, “I wish I looked like that,” don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone falls victim to the swimmer’s body illusion from time to time.
However, it’s important not to let the illusion fool you into thinking you’re in better shape than you really are. Just because you can run a few miles without getting winded doesn’t mean you don’t need regular checkups and screenings. In fact, routine screenings become even more important as we age because they can help catch health problems early – when they’re most treatable.
So next time you find yourself at the pool feeling self-conscious about your body, remember that everyone else is probably feeling the same way. And if you find yourself comparing your body to those of professional athletes, try not to let it go to your head – after all, they’re paid to stay in shape! Get regular checkups and screenings so you can be sure you’re really as healthy as you think you are.