The Health Counsellor

What is body image?

Body image can be defined as how you see and picture yourself in your mind and what you believe about your own appearance. Body image also includes how you feel about your body and how you sense, feel and control your body as you move. Eating and body image issues are often connected. 

What causes body dissatisfaction?

When a person has negative thoughts and feelings about his or her own body, body dissatisfaction can develop. Body dissatisfaction is an internal process but can be influenced by several external factors. For example, family, friends, acquaintances, teachers and the media all have an impact on how a person sees and feels about themselves and their appearance. Individuals in appearance oriented environments or those who receive negative feedback about their appearance are at an increased risk of body dissatisfaction. One of the most common external contributors to body dissatisfaction is the media, and more recently social media. People of all ages are bombarded with images through TV, magazines, internet and advertising. These images often promote unrealistic, unobtainable and highly stylised appearance ideals which have been fabricated by stylists, art teams and digital manipulation and cannot be achieved in real life. Those who feel they don’t measure up in comparison to these images, can experience intense body dissatisfaction which is damaging to their psychological and physical well- being.

How to develop a healthy body image

• Be realistic about the size you are likely to be based on your genetic and environmental history.
• Stay active (walking, dancing, yoga, etc.), regardless of your size.
• Expect normal weekly and monthly changes in weight and shape.
• Work towards self-acceptance and self- forgiveness; be gentle with yourself.
• Ask for support and encouragement from friends and family when life is stressful.
• Decide how you wish to spend your energy: pursuing the “perfect body” or enjoying family, friends, school and, most importantly, life.