I seem to be in the minority, wanting only medical advice.

This reminded me of an interaction I had with a dentist a while back. They were recommending braces and vaguely referenced it getting worse as I aged. But when I pushed them on health impacts they really struggled to articulate why it mattered. Clearly cavities are bad, teeth issues can be painful, and care is important given teeth don’t grow back. But if an industry is focused on image can I trust them to prioritize my health?

As a guy I’ve largely been spared the public pressure around appearance, but beauty standards still are very loud and powerful. Teeth, hair, and skin (tan) are common beauty markers I’ve considered taking action on. Generally I prioritize sunscreen over a tan but it’s Nice having skin that doesn’t burn with a little overexposure. I’ve come to accept the color of my hair changing and I’ve also looked into diet impacts on hair loss.

But even if you reject the value of beauty entirely. Weight and muscle both have beauty and health implications. How do I take care of my body in a way that sets me up for a long life of living with less pain without getting sucked into the attitude that my appearance matters over everything else? It annoys me that these conversations are almost impossible to separate.