What does it mean to have a negative self body image? Some people look in the mirror and can simply find nothing good to say about their appearance. What has happened in their lives that could have contributed to such a negative body image? Because we're human, we have insecurities. We may think a minor blemish is plain obvious to everyone else, when in actuality no one is paying attention for fear of their own blemishes.
Weight Loss For All, a site dedicated to coaching those primarily in body building lend to the discussion:
Body image is how you see yourself, and how you feel about your physical appearance, size, and weight. Your body image affects how you feel as a person, your value as a person, and how you feel inside your own skin. Body image is not a concrete feeling, though. It changes with mood, environment, and circumstance. It is by and large a learned response, which is taught by parents, friends, and others in society. The development of body image is mostly affected during puberty. How you see yourself can mean the difference between a healthy and happy lifestyle, and one filled with self-destructive behaviors.
Someone with a poor or negative body image often finds him or herself physically unattractive, and feels that others are likely disgusted by him or her. Today’s media has a powerful effect on an individual’s body shape, with notions of ultra thin women and perfectly muscular men being pushed to the masses. These so-called ideals are often impossible to achieve for the average person, without resorting to extreme, and often unhealthy, measures, such as eating disorders, excessive cosmetic surgeries, or even using steroids.
Most negative body image issues originate from:
•being teased or picked on when young
•being abused when young
•being alienated or rejected by certain groups of people (i.e. at school)
•place in any environment where you appear physically different from the majority (in ethnicity, weight, etc)
•comparing ourselves to other people (especially celebrities)
•trying to live up to impossible standards
This negative reflection of one’s own body can cause a great deal of harm, both physically and emotionally. Negative body image usually causes a person to often make unwise and unhealthy lifestyle choices, which never really solve the perceived problem. Decreased self-esteem can result, which can lead to: Depression, Withdrawal from society, Dangerous dieting, Suicide
A negative body image can also lead to a mental disorder known as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), where a person is convinced that they are deformed or disfigured when in fact they look completely fine. Those suffering from BDD often feel that they are too repulsive for others to see them, and they fear rejection, ridicule, and embarrassment. Therefore, they often withdraw from society altogether.
Take Action: Body Image Improvement
To improve body image it is necessary to change any negative thought patterns and replace them with more positive and encouraging thoughts. This may take some time and effort, but it will be worth it!
Weight Loss for All has also designed strategies to overcome poor body self image.
Write a list of parts of your body you are happy with and keep these in mind by repeating them to yourself regularly.
Learn to accept your body type and appreciate what your body can do, not what you believe it can't do.
Learn to ignore what the fashion / media industry tells us how we should look - remember most pictures are modified by computer and only a very small percentage of the population have the shape of models due to genetics.
Eat sensibly, exercise regularly and safely.
Try to make workouts fun and involve others for support.
Put appearance in perspective, remember that weight and appearance is not who you are.
Try to avoid the glossy fashion / celebrity magazines which promote unrealistic body images.
Make friends with the person in the mirror and learn to like what you see, its possible that negative thoughts about self can lead to binge / comfort eating.
Moving Into A Better Mind State
According to a 2008 body survey in the UK magazine Fabulous, women say their ideal body size is a US size 6. When asked, the men said they thought the ideal female body size should be a US size 10.
It was found in an earlier college study that young women systematically overestimate men's preference for a thin female ideal, whereas young men overestimate women's preference for a heavier and muscular male ideal. Also, most people sought a significantly thinner ideal than their current weight, no matter their age.
Take this quiz to realign and redefine how you can overcome poor self body image:
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