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Welcome to
Women’s Health
he hot topic of
conversation at Women’s
Health HQ this month?
How many times you’ve
seen your parents naked.
Not as arbitrary – or
office-inappropriate – as it might seem, it
was sparked by the expert theory that the
extent to which the household you grew
up in embraced nakedness can have an
impact on how you view and value your
own body. And, boy, did familial nakedness
spark debate. WH Production Editor
Victoria Rudland revealed that she’s both
amused and inspired in equal measure
by her mum’s enduring habit of being naked
around her. ‘I find nakedness among family
members overly familiar,’ says Victoria. ‘But
you’ve got to love her “I don’t care” attitude.’
Growing up, I remember my parents
happily being naked in front of me until
I was about 10 years old, before their bare
bodies slowly retreated behind closed doors.
Now I’m a mum, I think nothing of being
starkers in front of my children – aged three
and seven – despite my daughter regularly
giggling and telling me I’ve got a ‘big bottom’.
Claire Sanderson
Editor-In-ChiefGiven that research has found being exposed to
naked bodies can increase your own body confidence,
and being naked yourself can boost your self-
esteem, too, WH Deputy Editor Victoria Joy decided
to put it to the test. She was raised in a loving albeit
very non-naked household, and blames this for her
complete discomfort with being naked, whether
that’s walking around at home in front of her partner
or getting changed in the gym. So she challenged
herself to be more naked for a month. No, we didn’t
send her wandering down Oxford Street in her
birthday suit, but she consciously disrobed when
appropriate and didn’t struggle to preserve her
modesty with a towel while getting dressed after
a workout. Turn to page 17 to find out how she got on.
A woman who is completely comfortable in her
skin is this month’s cover star Rochelle Humes.
As our Project Body Love campaign in conjunction
with Always continues, she’s fronting this Naked
issue – our annual celebration of how wonderfully
diverse healthy women’s bodies can be – and is
joined in stripping off by the 10 incredibly fit world-
class sports professionals you’ll find on page 91.
A WH contingent flew to Mallorca to shoot
Rochelle, and her innate confidence on set was
inspiring. There were no awkward moments of trying
to cover boobs in between shots; she quite rightly
loves her body and is setting an enviably positive
example to her two daughters. Proud of what her
body has achieved, running a marathon among her
successes, she works hard to be the best version of
herself and to be healthy and happy for her family.
You’ll find the story of another incredible woman
on page 52. Ella Dove lost her leg after a freak
accident while out running, and she explains how
she had to learn to love her body again after months
of despair. It’s an ongoing process, but she says fitness
has been the secret to her burgeoning acceptance.
I hope you’re finding our Project Body Love
content useful – look out for the stamp! – and are
utilising the helpful tips in your day-to-day lives.
Only 9% of the women we surveyed at the start of
the campaign described their body confidence as
high. I’m hoping that number has already shifted.Follow me on Instagram @clairesanderson