The Return of the Thin Trend: Why It’s Dangerous for Young Women

Pop star Ariana Grande’s recent music video release for her song “Petal” has triggered a widespread public debate regarding body image and a shifting cultural thinness ideal, according to coverage by VG and commentary from public figures. Following the video’s release, online commentators speculated heavily on the 33-year-old artist’s weight, prompting model and body activist Charli Howard to criticize Grande’s team on Instagram for not intervening. Two days after the video debuted, Grande stepped back from the public eye temporarily as discussions over the health implications of public weight commentary intensified across social media.

The Return of the Ultra-Thin Aesthetic and Celebrity Influence

According to influencer Sonja Iren Johnsen, 26, “It is without a doubt trendy to be thin. You notice it in how people talk.” Johnsen, who speaks openly about body image to over 60,000 Instagram followers, argues that while public concern is understandable, commentary regarding an individual’s health should remain strictly between friends and family rather than playing out in the public sphere.

Doctor and therapist Kari Løvendahl Mogstad, author of the book “Vår vei ut” about eating disorders, agrees that society faces an unhealthy thinness ideal. Mogstad states that the beauty standard has progressed from slim to thin, to the degree that many visible role models now appear “radmagre” (emaciated). She points to the rise of diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic as a new pathway to rapid thinness embraced by adults and public figures alike, noting that these trends disproportionately threaten young girls whose skeletal development continues through their mid-twenties.

Personal Struggles With Weight and the Trap of Validation

For individuals recovering from eating disorders, public debates and body-focused commentary can reinforce dangerous psychological loops. Emma Kivijervi, 23, who spent time receiving inpatient treatment for severe anorexia after pandemic-related lockdowns disrupted her soccer career, notes that external comments rarely help. According to Kivijervi, hearing that she looked thin provided a dangerous sense of accomplishment during her illness.

“I felt I never became small enough,” Kivijervi explains. When people called her thin, she felt proud. Conversely, well-meaning remarks during treatment about looking healthier felt devastating to her recovery process. Kivijervi emphasizes that public figures constantly in the spotlight amplify these vulnerabilities, making it essential to shift cultural conversations away from individual bodies and toward the underlying psychological mechanisms driving eating disorders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Ariana Grande’s “Petal” music video spark controversy?

The music video generated intense online speculation regarding the pop star’s weight rather than her music, drawing criticism from body activists and subsequent news coverage about a broader cultural thinness trend.

What concerns do medical professionals have about modern thinness trends?

According to therapist Kari Løvendahl Mogstad, the glorification of extreme thinness—fueled in part by weight-loss medications like Ozempic—puts young people at risk of long-term health complications, including damaged bone health and loss of menstruation.

Where can individuals struggling with eating disorders seek help in Norway?

Support is available through organizations like ROS (Rådgivning om spiseforstyrrelser), Mental Helse (116 123), Røde Kors (800 33 321), and Kirkens SOS (22 40 00 40), or by contacting a fastlege (primary care doctor).