A fascinating new article is out in Men’s Health magazine.
Journalist, Jamie Carson, shares his personal journey toward better health and how embracing nudity has helped that. He started with a familiar quest to improve his physical health and lose weight. But instead found himself asking “is my natural body shape really so wrong?” That shift from self-criticism to self-acceptance sits at the heart of the article.
He draws on the landmark 2021 study we did with Prof Keon West, which demonstrated that spending time naked with others, even for a short period can improve our self-worth and reduce social anxiety. That evidence continues to resonate, especially in a culture saturated with edited images and unrealistic standards.
The cultural context is explored with insights from Prof Annebella Pollen, whose decades-long research into the history of Naturism helps explain how we arrived at today’s attitudes and why they may be ready to shift again.
In the piece, Dr Mark Bass, President of British Naturism, unpacks the connections between nudity and our mental health and dicusses the real purpose of Naturism: to achieve respect for yourself, for others and for the natural world. Importantly, they highlight findings from the Ipsos survey commissioned by British Naturism, estimating that 6.75 million people in the UK would describe themselves as Naturists. When you place that alongside figures showing 3.1 million adults in England feel lonely “often or always,” the potential for positive social and mental health impact becomes incredibly significant.
Finally, Andrew Welch reflects on how participation in nude recreation has evolved, with notable growth, particularly during the Covid period. As Professor Pollen observes, ‘Periods of social instability, like post-war Britain or post-Covid, tend to make people re-evaluate what really matters.’ And for many, that reassessment has included authenticity, connection, and acceptance.
It’s thoughtful. It’s evidence-based. And it’s refreshingly honest.
If you care about body confidence, mental wellbeing, or the future of Naturism in the UK, this is absolutely worth your time.
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