What is Body Image?
by Keith Milligan
Body image is . . .
- How you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in your mind.
- What you believe about your own appearance (including your memories, assumptions, and generalizations).
- How you feel about your body, including your height, shape, and weight.
- How you sense and control your body as you move. How you feel in your body, not just about your body.
Negative body image is . . .
- A distorted perception of your shape–you perceive parts of your body unlike they really are.
- You are convinced that only other people are attractive and that your body size or shape is a sign of personal failure.
- You feel ashamed, self-conscious, and anxious about your body.
- You feel uncomfortable and awkward in your body.
Positive body image is . . .
- A clear, true perception of your shape–you see the various parts of your body as they really are.
- You celebrate and appreciate your natural body shape and you understand that a person’s physical appearance says very little about their character and value as a person.
- You feel proud and accepting of your unique body and refuse to spend an unreasonable amount of time worrying about food, weight, and calories.
- You feel comfortable and confident in your body.
Our body image begins to form at an early age. Body image is linked to the way that we feel about ourselves and many experts believe that the media, our parents and our peers significantly affect the way we feel about our bodies. This constant fixation with and longing for a different weight and shape can be painful for many.
As we get older, having a negative body image may increase our likelihood of developing an eating disorder and suffering from feelings of depression, isolation, low self-esteem, and obsessions with weight loss.
Conversely, having feelings about your body that are positive, confident and self-caring reflects a positive body image. We all may have our days when we feel awkward or uncomfortable in our bodies, but the key to developing positive body image is to recognize and respect our natural shape and learn to overpower those negative thoughts and feelings with positive, affirming and accepting ones. Below are some strategies you can employ to start feeling better about your body and yourself:
-
Become aware of your positives–find one good point for every perceived bad one
-
Recognize cultural pressures for what they are–unrealistic ideals of perfection
-
Empower yourself–don’t give others, media, etc. the power to influence how you feel about yourself
-
Improve your health and mood through exercise
-
Base your size and shape on your genetic and environmental history rather than on a "cultural ideal"
-
Work towards self acceptance and self forgiveness
Celebrate your body!
Body Image Questionnaire
- Have you avoided sports or working out because you didn’t want to be seen in gym clothes? Yes______ No ________
- Does eating even a small amount of food make you feel fat? Yes_______ No______
- Do you worry or obsess about your body not being small, thin or good enough? Yes____ No ______
- Are you concerned your body is not muscular or strong enough? Yes_____ No_____
- Do you avoid wearing certain clothes because they make you feel fat? Yes _____ No_____
- Do you feel badly about yourself because you don’t like your body? Yes _____ No_____
- Have you ever disliked your body? Yes ______ No ________
- Do you want to change something about your body? Yes _____ No ________
- Do you compare yourself to others and "come up short?" Yes______ No_______
If you answered "Yes" to 3 or more questions, you may have a negative body image
The intent of this series of articles is not to provide counseling but to provide information about mental health and wellness topics. To seek help with your individual concerns, please contact Rider University Counseling Services at Lawrenceville (609-896-5157) or Princeton (609-921-7100 x8275) to schedule an appointment.
