You Can’t See Your Own Health Clearly

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Last time, I talked about how the visual standard for the human body has changed over time, and how what looks strong or healthy today would have looked unusual just a few decades ago.

But even if you understand that those standards are distorted, there’s a deeper problem: most people still can’t accurately evaluate their own health.

In this episode, I explore why that happens.

The tools people rely on—what they see in the mirror, what the scale shows, how they feel day to day—are constantly changing, which makes the signal unstable. At the same time, the reference point people compare themselves to has shifted, often toward highly curated or unrepresentative examples.

When both the signal and the reference point are unclear, the evaluation never settles.

From there, behavior starts to change. People adjust constantly, respond to short-term feedback, and end up misreading whether what they’re doing is actually working.

The result isn’t a lack of effort or discipline. It’s a measurement problem.

This episode looks at how that problem develops, and why the signals people rely on most are often the least reliable over time.

Uncommonly Remarkable℠ is a health and wellness show focused on understanding how the body works and how everyday choices shape long-term health.

I’m Artis Beatty, a doctor of optometry and Chief Medical Officer at MyEyeDr. While my professional background informs how I think, the perspectives shared here are my own.