Confession: Yes, I would like to have the thigh gap.
I would also like to be the crown princess of a glam European country (Monaco would do nicely, thank you!).
Unfortunately, neither is likely to happen. Scratch that… there are higher chances of my becoming a princess than my getting a thigh gap.
Not unless I am willing to go in for reconstructive surgery, at least. And that’s never going to happen.
What is the thigh gap, anyway?
In theory, it’s simple: The inner thigh gap shows up when you stand with your feet together and have a space between your thighs.
Yeah, that’s it — a gap between your thighs. Your thighs touching is what’s the problem.
No, it doesn’t come as news that young women — including high school students and college girls — are exploring yet another dangerous body trend, but what’s truly alarming is that even being “skinny” is no longer the ultimate pinnacle for many girls.
The thigh gap has now become the pinnacle of perfection: A measure of weight loss success or failure.
Again, repeat after me: Your thighs touching is the problem.
And this latest body obsession is downright scary and implausible for many reasons.
In practise, it’s rare enough that something like 5% women in this world will have a natural thigh gap without resorting to drastic and dangerous measures. Despite this (or maybe because of this) teeny, tiny percentage, thigh gaps have become the most coveted “It accessory”.
The trend has launched thousands of blogs, memes, eating plans, workout regimes, and inspirational quotes. Some gyms even have a curated program around thigh muscles exercises (sumo squats are super popular!).
Why I (and most possibly you) will never have a gap between the thighs
I went through most of my life being grossly underweight but have never seen even the slightest hint of a natural gap on my frame.
And neither will 95% of women worldwide, even if they diet and exercise down to a size 0.
That’s because it’s more about your body type and bone structure than your weight. Dr. Travis Stork explained this on a recent episode of The Doctors.
He brought two women for the demonstration: One was a size 6 with a gap between her thighs, and the other was a size 0 without a hint of a gap.
Their hip X-rays revealed how the skeletal structure determines this phenomenon: If you have narrow hips and your bones angle inwards, thigh gaps are virtually unachievable no matter how much you exercise or starve yourself. If your hips are wider, you may have one regardless of size or weight.
And no dieting, fitness regimen, or thigh gap exercises will change your bone structure, just like nothing can change your height.
So, even if you are a size zero, there’s still a chance of your inner thighs touching each other!
Many doctors and other experts blame the advertising industry and its liberal use of Photoshop for pushing this kind of unrealistic beauty ideals that lead to seriously low self-esteem, body dysmorphia (negative body image), and other mental health issues.
As Lynn Grefe, former National Eating Disorders Association President, says, “With photo editing and photo manipulation these days, most of these… are not even real images.”
Extreme measures?
But when has a little biological or physical impossibility stopped us in our quest for a new trend? Remember the cotton ball diet? Or the IV transfusions?
Similarly, gaps are now being served up in a cosmetic surgeon’s office, using seriously questionable measures beyond dieting or sumo squats — like a thigh lift and other surgical procedures.
For example, cosmetic surgery clinics have seen a rapid demand for CoolSculpting, a fat-freezing treatment on the inner thigh. It works on the principles of cryolipolysis, which breaks down fatty tissue with unique cooling technology.
This causes fat cells to die off and then get eliminated by the body’s lymphatic system over a few weeks — which ostensibly stops your thighs from touching each other.
Others talk about the more readily available liposuction, where the doctor makes an incision in your skin and then uses rods that have a little hole in the middle to suck out the “extra fat”… possible side effects include swelling, bruising, soreness, oozing, an uneven skin surface and damage to the nerves and skin.
Oh, and for a fraction of people, death.
Not much to worry about, then. All for some fat reduction to meet simply unrealistic beauty standards.
Even women who shy away from the surgical route fall prey to extreme dieting and exercising in their desire for a gap between their thighs. Do a quick search, and you will find plenty of teenage girls committed to starving in the hopes of living up to this super-skinny trend.
And when a goal like this becomes the measure of success or failure, it can be unhealthy. Think what it would do to someone with an exercise or eating disorder … not a pretty result.
I will sit this one out.
Rather than focus on something so unrealistic and fraught with dangers, I would work at getting stronger, healthier, and more toned overall with a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Build muscle rather than break down my body. You too? Right?
There is, after all, an essential distinction between getting to your healthy weight vs. irrationally obsessing about the width of your hips.
So let’s celebrate the thighs we have, gap or no gap. Make them stronger but let’s ignore the gap.
Anubha Charan is a powerhouse in the luxury beauty industry, with over 15 years of expertise shaping the global beauty narrative. As the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, she worked with the magazine's French headquarters to craft cutting-edge beauty content for international audiences.
Anubha's bylines have appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest. She is also the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a Simon & Schuster book on French beauty rituals.
anusha says
phew…so much of trends..i dont follow them blindly..i am happy being me and as you said we should focus on being strong 🙂
Miranda @ Slashed Beauty says
THANK YOU for this post! The media totally distorts the image of women and therefore the self esteem of millions. Have you heard of the Media and Public Health Act? The goal is to get images in media that have distorted the body by photoshopping to be LABELLED so that the public knows the body does not exist.
Alanna says
That would be amazing if that were to happen…and GMO labeling while they’re at it 🙂
Advertising and media is very largely to blame for these ridiculous body trends, definitely time for them to be accountable to someone for the content they’re bombarding young girls with!
30+ year NUTRITIONIsT says
Your stupid, ITs simple to have glowing skin and a thighgap, Just GO ORGANIC VEGAN!
Shelby says
You should use correct grmmar when you call someont “stupid”. Otherwise it’is just laughable.
Jenna says
Shelby are you on the freaking moon? Did you even pay attention to your grammar? Don’t say shit if you can not write. Geeezz
Denise says
LMAO FACTS
Alisa says
I have a very small thigh gap, I am only 12, my hips are pretty short/long so i might get it bigger when I grow up, I honestly think thigh gaps don’t look healthy, I don’t really want it. 🙁 And I don’t want huge hips. 🙁
Joey London says
Go eat a box of donuts and it’ll got away the next day! Krispy kreme particularly darling.
Nathalia says
Crazy. But I am not sure whether that is a new thing. About 15 years ago a friend of mine said she would diet till she got a thigh gap. So I experimented a bit, and found that if you stand straight and push your thighs outwards, you get a thigh gap for the lenght of a picture. Or if you want to be awkward, forever. I am a size 10 or so, and it works. She then stopped dieting, thank god.
I have actually met a girl with a natural thigh gap years later, and she looked like a stork to me, because her legs did not cross easily when she walked or sat.
Can’t we all just say that Healthy is beautiful and leave it at that. Besides, how bored must you be to actually get your fat frozen?
The Thigh Gap Hack says
Please stop perpetuating this myth that it’s virtually impossible to have a gap without wide hips. I have very narrow hips and was able to get a gap by getting lean enough and avoiding exercises that builds leg muscles (weighted squats, lunges, etc.) while strategically doing exercises that burn stubborn body fat.
I wrote a book on it called “The Thigh Gap Hack” (google it or see http://www.thighgaphack.com) and my clients/readers have been getting results.
I assure you, with the right know how you too can get the gap you’ve admitted to wanting. There’s no starving, throwing up, extreme anything (like 3 hr long cardio sessions) involved. Just knowing the right foods to eat and avoid, the most efficient ways to train and staying motivated.
sasha mizaree says
You found a way to make money off women’s insecurities. Why the fuck would anyone “Eat the right foods” to get a thigh gap, which many of the most gorgeous women on earth don’t have and look JUST FINE.
Amy . P says
FYI
We are trying to show teens to love and accept their bodies.
No one needs a Thigh Gap to be cool or hot.
Then you show up with some silly book trying to convince everyone that they should have the thigh gap?
why not accept your body structure? If you were born with the gap Fine, but if you have curvs you should be proud. I know most people find more attractive and HOT a pair of feminine legs and a BOOTY rather than a bony ass….
Girl Person says
Well excuse me for having a naturally bony ass and natural thigh gap even though I eat literally almost everything out of the fridge and pantry
rachel says
what the fawk — anyways dont ome here and say that ok? ok thank you
The Thigh Gap Hack says
PS – don’t publish this comment, but if you’re interested I would love to send you a copy of the book for you to read and review. You have a voice, and I’m willing to put up or shut up when it comes to this matter. Just email me with your name and email address and I’ll send you over your free copy.
Amie says
I agree that thigh gap has a lot to do with bone structure, but it does not necessarily mean you have wide hips. I think the angle of the greater trochanter has a lot to do with it (where the thigh bone joins with the hip). I have narrow (boyish) hips, and also a thigh gap, whether or not I gain weight. I would trade my thigh gap for a curvier figure if I had the choice.
adventure time says
This thigh gap trend is utter bullshit!!!it’s crazy the lengths women go,to obtain something they weren’t born with!it’s really disgusting to see women and young girls,who look almost skeletal,with this so called thigh gaps,it’s scary,(just Google images on thigh gap),you’ll see what i mean,women who have unnatural thigh gaps,make people like me,with a natural thigh gap,look bad.(p.s having a thigh gap is no big deal,it’s just a stupid fucking gap!!!),tbh i can’t wait for this dumb ass trend to go away! o_o,even if i’m a size 0,and eat like a fat cow,hate having an ultra fast metabolism,so hard to gain a bloody pound!) i kinda wish the voluptuous figure would be the new trend,like those beautiful vintage women,Audrey Hepburn,Ava Gardner,Marilyn Monroe,Sophia Lauren and so many others….
Summer says
I am a size 0 with a thigh gap but my friend who is the same size as me doesn’t AT ALL! but when we measured our hips, mine were much wider than hers.
So it just depends on your hip width! xx
Maggie says
I have a thigh gap…but I am not anorexic-I just work out a ton-I am like 10 percent body fat! :p
30+ year NUTRITIONIsT says
YOUR WRONG ABOUT THIGH GAPs, ITs NATURAL TO HAVE ONE! BUT THE ONLY WAY TO GET ONE Is TO GO VEGAN OR sTARVE YOURsELF. THE REAsON A NORMAL PERsON Is NOT CAPABLE OF GETTING A THIGH GAP, Is BECAUsE THEY EAT A TON OF ANIMAL PRODUCTs AND CHEMICALs + REFINED sUGARs ECt… EVERYTHING FROM THE FLOURIDE IN THE WATER TO THE HORMONEs AND FATs IN YOUR MILK AND MEAT CAUsE THIs WHEN WHAT THEY sHOULD BE DOING Is EATING HEALTHY FATs FROM COCONUT, CHIA sEED, Ect… COCONUT FAT speeds up the metabolism! ALONG WITH A TON OF FRUITs AND VEGGIEs AND GRAINs. NO FUCKING ANIMAL PRODUCTs OR CHEMICALs! EVER! YOUR sKIN WILL GLOW AND YOU WILL HAVE A THIGH GAP~! AND DONT BE AFRAID TO EAT TILL YOUR FULL! CALORIE REsTRICTING DOEsnT WORK ANYWAY, IT sLOWs DOWN YOUR METABOLIsm, IN RARE CAsEs IT WORKs BECAusE THE PERsON Is AVOIDING ANIMAL PRODUCTs AND OR LITTERALLY sTARVING THEMsELVEs. JUsT GO VEGAN YOU DUMB BITCHEs!
Al says
Nice trolling.
Girl Person says
I eat all of the stuff you said a “normal” person eats and I’m still super skinny with a thigh gap, oh no! *sarcasm*
keishagirl says
Thank you Thank you Thank you. I’m going vegan now! I wish I had more people like you around for some support on this. I’m almost 22. If I adapt a clean vegan lifestyle
I should have thigh gap by the time I’m 25.
jade says
My sister naturally has thigh gap and she doesn’t like it. She was different in our family as the second eldest and I guess she inherited something that we didn’t since she actually looks different from the rest of us while we all look almost alike. She says things keep falling out of it whenever she places one(the small or thin ones of course) and it’s hard to do ballet or ballroom with it. Not that she have tried a vegan diet or a surgery of some sort. It really is a bone structure that you are born with.
Girl Person says
It’s so rude of you to say that only 5% of women have thigh gaps and that they’re unnatural and gross and only “normal people” don’t have thigh gaps and the only way to achieve a thigh gap is starving yourself and instead of putting the thick people down for not having thigh gaps, instead, we should make the thick people happy but the skinny people super depressed because you’re putting us down! Hurray??
black girl says
So true I feel awful for having one after reading that sentence.
Cgirl says
I had a thigh gap up until this year. Its almost gone. Theres maybe a quarter of an inch remaining. I am 22 btw. Growing up with my big family we didnt have a lot of food. I didnt even know it was going to be a “thing”. When people would say things about my weight, id blow it off, i still do. My weight should concern no one unless it is damaging my health. Some people would he highly jelous, some people would be angry towards me. Some would call me stick or bones or things of that nature. But when youre skinny, and work out too btw ( free time when youre poor) lol, and fat people say things most of the time ots not even heart because youre fat! Like you dont exist in the same way to skinny people not physically anyway. Youre looked at like you dont take care of yourself. Ihave a child of my own. I have lost motivation to be skinny amwith a flat tummy amd thin arms and perhaps thin legs too, i care less these days. In the bible it says dont worry. So i dont worry i just do and i pray about it and i just remember my body is a temple for the Lord and it is my job not to stuff it. If you k ow what i mean. Ive gained a lot. My body is much different now. I have shapes on me i never knew existed. As i grow i care less about being skinny but more about simply being careful with myself and how i carry myself. Ive found that even though when i was skinny yes id attract lots of looks( it also helps if youre naturally gorgeous) but all i wanted was one special man to notice and it doesnt matter in the end of your hearts and emotions and all those things connect with God in the middle and all of that. You need to he loved for your personality also. Dont just be lloved for your body. Sometimes men have a hard time letring go of your body after they have their way with you. Fat or not fat lol. I feel like im getting chubby lol akd i still wear a size zero just fine. Its just crazy lol. Give all yourself to the Lord and let him love you just the way you are and to shape you i to who you should be in his eyes, not your own and def not others. Byyye.
Mariam says
Actually its Lana Del REY nit RAY
Brent says
Personally as a man I find so called though gap on a lady not sexy at all as a matter a fact I find it grossly nasty
Jo says
That attitude is gross and nasty
Frank says
As a guy I am quite sure, that other men do not like ‘thigh gaps’ like they are portrayed in the pictures in this article.
Most men don’t like women with skinny legs that look anorexic. Men like regular, ‘soft’ looking women with a healthy body-fat ratio.
And yes, there is no diet that can magically create a thigh gap, because it is all about having wider hips which probably make a woman look subconsciously more ‘fertile’ to men.
rachel says
KDFHSDLFKGJH are you the vegan teacher or..
Adele Horin says
The dress is so classy and nice. Thanks a lot for sharing that design.
Geometry Dash says
There is nothing wrong with wanting a thigh gap or wanting to lose weight. It’s once you take things to the extreme and starve and don’t eat is when things become more serious. There is nothing wrong for wanting something to make you feel better but once things become more serious and life threatening is when there is a problem
Cupcake game says
The “thigh gap” is often touted as an idealized body feature, but the reality is that it’s not something everyone can achieve, even at a very low weight. It largely depends on genetics—specifically the structure of your pelvis and how your body stores fat. While some people naturally have a thigh gap, many don’t, regardless of size or weight. It’s important to remember that body diversity is normal, and striving for a particular aesthetic, especially one tied to unrealistic beauty standards, can be harmful to self-esteem. Embracing your body for what it is and focusing on health and confidence is always a better path than chasing unattainable ideals.