New ‘Belly Button Challenge’ Sparks Controversy

There’s a new challenge going viral but it’s also sparked some controversy (and we can see why). The ‘Belly Button Challenge’ originated in China earlier this week and it’s spreading rather rapidly across social media. Basically, it challenges people to touch their belly button by reaching behind their back and around their waist.

Medical experts raise concerns about #BellyButtonChallenge http://t.co/4cYjqwUrnY pic.twitter.com/X0DeIgvGyu

— KDVR FOX31 Denver (@KDVR) June 12, 2015

It is said to stem from a “scientific study” which claims that if you can do this, you are healthy. In actual fact, there are a lot of other elements which determine whether you can do it including arm length and flexibility. As a result, many experts are concerned that the challenge is promoting an unhealthy and unrealistic idea of body image. In other words, it doesn’t actually show how healthy you are and you could easily pull a muscle in your attempts. Think we'll spend our next 10 minutes having a cuppa and a biscuit instead...