We hear about strange and weird phobias and disorders all the time. Some phobias restrict certain activities; others propel people into risky, bizarre behaviors. The latest in a long list of ‘syndromes’ that medical professionals, researchers and psychologist unearth and identify from time to time, is the Angelina Jolie Syndrome or the Jolie Syndrome to its friends.
What is the Jolie Syndrome?
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Taking preventive action to protect health and well being is now being referred to as the Jolie Syndrome. And why Angelina Jolie? The Hollywood star chose to undergo elective twin mastectomies because of close female relatives of hers having cancer and because she herself was found to be a carrier of the gene that put her at high risk of developing the disease. Many would call this very extreme indeed.
When people choose to undergo preventive procedures such as surgeries on a healthy body for a hypothetical disease, it is being referred to as the Jolie Syndrome. The recent boom in fitness, organic foods, fad diets, plastic surgery and apps for monitoring health is all a part of the mindset that is obsessed with being healthy.
What gives rise to the Jolie Syndrome?
It is a fear of sickness that leads to people taking extreme actions to safeguard against the possibility of illness or disease. Hypochondriacs never had it so good! It is something experts are calling ‘healthism’: a new understanding of health probably fueled by better health care systems and also perhaps our easy access to health related info on the net and so on. With the emphasis on prevention rather than cure, in health care today this is perhaps a natural progression?
And then there is the obsession with looking a certain way. The ‘perfect’ skin, body and hair celebrated as the ideal of beauty in the media makes people aspire to unreasonable and unachievable ideals. It makes people resort to extreme cosmetic surgery procedures; unhealthy diets and punishing fitness routines. It is difficult to identify when the desire to lead a healthy life, transforms into an obsession with health. Healthism is a sign of our times; apparently so is the Jolie Syndrome.
Author: Reena Daruwalla
