We’ve all scrolled through the #bodypositivity tag. It’s a movement that's taken over our feeds, promising self-love and acceptance for all. But as Gen Z continues to navigate this space, a new question is emerging: Is the body positivity movement actually helping, or has it just created a new set of pressures?

The "growwithjo" podcast crew sat down to get real about this, and their conversation is the honest take we’ve been needing. Is body positivity productive, or has it turned toxic?

The "Toxic" Side We Need to Acknowledge

The hosts, Jo, Kirra, and Hully, get candid about how quickly good intentions can curdle into obsession.

• When Health Becomes Obsession: Kirra shares that her fitness journey "quickly turned toxic" in university [04:07]. It stopped being about health and started being about "what my body should look like" or how much she should be able to lift.
• The "Am I Good Enough?" Spiral: Hully opens up about her postpartum journey, admitting she felt "sad for myself" [07:12] and had thoughts like, "Am I good enough for my husband?" [07:29] This raw honesty highlights the deep-seated insecurities that "love yourself" platitudes don't always fix.
• Family & Friends: The podcast also calls out those "toxic" (even if unintentional) comments from family and friends. You know the ones: "Oh, you look like you've gained weight" [30:49]. These comments can stick with you, replaying in your mind.
• Social Media Pressure: Hully mentions seeing bodies on social media and struggling, before realizing "that's just not real for me" [16:53]. The digital world often feeds us standards that are unattainable and damaging.

The Productive Glow-Up: It’s Not About How You Look

So, what's the solution? The crew agrees that the most "productive" form of body positivity has nothing to do with what you see in the mirror.

It’s about what your body can do.

Jo defines her body positivity as a "full awareness of everything that my body is capable of and celebrating that" [02:38]. This was the lightbulb moment for the entire group. They found peace when they shifted their focus from "my waist doesn't look snatched today" to "my core is strong, my posture is good" [15:29].

It’s a complete reframe:

• Self-Care IS Body Positivity: Hully points out that body positivity doesn't mean you "let it all hang loose" [33:32]. Taking care of yourself—whether it's exfoliating, doing your hair, or exercising—is an act of self-love [33:51].
• Control Your Narrative: Jo’s ultimate hack for dealing with negative comments? Address them head-on. If someone says something, you have the power to shut it down. This allows you to "control the narrative" [31:52] and stops the negative thought from replaying in your head.
• Curate Your Circle: Part of Hully's journey was cutting off "bad people that doesn't make you feel good" [11:14] and learning to finally accept a compliment [11:36]. Your environment, both online and off, matters.

The Verdict: The Goal Is to Not Think About It

Perhaps the most revolutionary idea from the entire talk is a new definition of the end goal.

Kirra suggests that the ultimate version of body positivity is "being so content with yourself that... you don't even think about it" [18:28].

The real "win" isn't being obsessed with loving your body 24/7. The win is getting to a place of peace where your body is no longer your main focus, and you can put that energy into other things—like your goals, your passions, and "all the positive things that we could be doing for the people around us" [19:56].

So, is body positivity toxic or productive? According to the growwithjo crew, it’s "toxic" when it’s just another obsession with appearance. It’s "productive" when it’s a radical shift toward celebrating capability and, finally, achieving peace.