Body Image

Body image is defined as one’s thoughts, perception, and attitudes about their physical appearance. This includes:

• What you believe about your appearance 
• How you feel about your body including height, shape, and weight
• How you physically experience/feel in your body 

Having a positive body image involves feeling comfortable and confident in your body, accepting its natural shape and size, and understanding that physical appearance does not determine one’s character or value as a person. 

Negative body image often involves a distorted perception of one’s self, body dissatisfaction, shame, anxiety, and self-consciousness. Individuals who experience high levels of body dissatisfaction often feel as though their bodies are flawed and are more likely to suffer from depression, low self-esteem, and eating disorders. Severe forms of body image can lead to body dysmorphic disorder. 

Some signs of poor body image can include:

• Focusing excessive attention on minor flaws in appearance 
• Viewing oneself as unattractive
• Fearing that other people can see so-called deformities 
• Being a perfectionist 
• Avoiding social gatherings 
• Constantly looking at oneself in the mirror 
• Constantly trying to hide perceived flaws with clothing or makeup 
• Constantly comparing your appearance to other people 
• Pursuing excessive cosmetic surgery or procedures 
• Needing reassurance from others 
• Never being satisfied with your appearance 

Body image is often shaped from a young age, and can be impacted by the messages that we hear about our bodies from television, movies, and social media. Bullying, peer pressure, and the changes that occur during puberty can also impact body image. Body image concerns affect all genders and cultures, but there are typically different appearance-based concerns depending on one’s gender. For example, women often feel pressure to be thin and beautiful according to a certain idea, whereas men are often faced with pressure to be lean and muscular.