Overcoming Negative Body Image With the BODY Framework

"Our culture presents a confusing array of messages about bodies, eating, and health. We see media images that promote unrealistic (and generally unreal) bodies, sensationalized news stories about "health," and an ongoing push for perfection. This "normative discontent" reflects rampant weightism and lookism in our world. Body negativity has been a long-standing issue for many decades, but today's culture can feel even more extreme because of often misguided social media messages and heavily edited images."

"Culture isn't the only thing that triggers negative body image and disordered eating or exercise dysfunction; however, it is a significant factor. Sonya Renee Taylor, author of The Body Is Not an Apology, argues that no one is born with body shame; it is a learned behavior and an "indoctrination" from the world around us. Sadly, body terrorism is the native language for many."

"Instead of loathing our bodies and assuming we need more willpower, let's shift our perspective to building more skillpower. We need more balanced information to challenge unrealistic ideals, reduce the glorification of flawlessness, and promote self-respect. Most importantly, shifting negative body image is not about changing the body; it is about changing one's image of and relationship to one's body."

Cultural messages, media images, sensationalized health stories, and social media promote unrealistic body ideals and an ongoing push for perfection. Weightism and lookism create normative discontent that fuels body negativity. Body shame is learned through social indoctrination and can become pervasive body terrorism for many. Shifting negative body image requires building skillpower, promoting balanced information, reducing glorification of flawlessness, and fostering self-respect rather than attempting to change bodies. Body image is the subjective perception of one's physical self and perceived others' views, often inaccurate. Body appreciation protects mental health and associates with adaptive well-being. A positive, balanced body image does not require loving every aspect of the body daily; it involves a stable self-identity and the ability to notice and appreciate bodily strengths.

Read at Psychology Today