Weight loss is a daunting task and a huge accomplishment; however, the body dysmorphia that lingers after weight loss isn’t an issue widely talked about. Phantom fat or body incongruence is the result of losing a lot of weight in a short time frame and can affect how you view yourself. The issue occurs because your vestigial image hasn’t ‘updated’ yet, and this causes individuals to see themselves as they were before weight loss. 

 

The zine series was created for the Reinvent Health Podcast, a South African holistic health company that discusses themes of weight loss and mental health. There was a need for Millennial and Generation Z individuals to be introduced and educated on body incongruence after weight loss, as well as provide tips on how to improve their mental health as they continue to lose weight. 

 

The aesthetic of the project was inspired by the practice of objectively taking care of one’s mind as a machine and working through issues by finding the root cause and solving it. The visuals are inspired by Y2K technology and pixel art that add a layer of nostalgia to the zines. The contrasting photography elements show the divide between self-perception and reality, and the created scenes are meant to capture the tension between self-perception and true reality.