The human body is powerful: it processes energy, facilitates movement, and allows us to do the things that interest us. But the body is also something much more than a tool that allows us to live our lives. The body can be a source of self-understanding, complex emotions, and unique physical experiences — factors that tend to be impacted by body image.
by: Sadie Grant
Today, we are going to talk about body image, or the way we understand and relate to our bodies. We will discuss some of the different ways in which people can view their bodies, explore how body image is often a concern for those with eating disorders, and provide information about improving body image.
What is Body Image?
Body image is how we see, imagine, and feel about our bodies. Body image includes:
- Cognitive perceptions: what we believe is true about our bodies, including factors such as present beliefs, retrospective beliefs, and generalizations
- Emotional perceptions: how we feel about our appearance, including height, weight, shape, and other features
- Physical perceptions: how we physically experience movement in the body
From a young age, we process a lot of information about how we should relate to our bodies from sources such as our families, our day to day activities, the media, and our cultural backgrounds. These messages can shape how we relate to our bodies and whether we develop a healthy body image. A healthy body image can be a key source of prevention against developing an eating disorder.
What is a Healthy Body Image?
One way in which we can have a healthy relationship with our bodies is through positive body image. Also referred to as body positivity or body satisfaction, positive body image is an accurate perception of how our bodies truly are. Positive body image includes accepting, respecting, and embracing the body in its natural shape and size, as well as acknowledging that physical appearance does not determine one’s qualities or worth as a human being.
Another form of healthy body image is body neutrality. Body neutrality is about embracing what the body does, rather than how it looks. Body neutrality means recognizing the power of the human body as a vehicle that can support movement, including exercise, travel, or interaction with a loved one. Body neutrality does not require us to love our physical appearance; it is simply about appreciating how the body, when cared for, allows us to move through and enjoy the world.
Developing a healthy body image has been shown to be a key feature of the most effective eating disorder treatment programs.
What is Negative Body Image?
Unlike positive or neutral body image, negative body image (also known as body dissatisfaction) occurs when we have a distorted perception of our physical appearance. Negative body image is associated with feelings of shame, self-consciousness, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Body dissatisfaction also often involves an experience of feeling flawed compared to other people. Research indicates that negative body image is a leading contributor to the development of an eating disorder. Common symptoms of negative body image include:
- Self-scrutinizing in the mirror
- Having persistent negative thoughts/criticisms about the body
- Envying or comparing self to others’ bodies
One of the most common reasons why we may develop body dissatisfaction is through mainstream media, especially social media. We are constantly bombarded with messages about how we should look and act. These messages and images, often highly fabricated and edited, present an unattainable standard of beauty. In turn, it is possible to develop unhealthy patterns of self comparison that can have psychological and physical consequences.
What is the Relationship Between Body Image and Eating Disorders?
According to the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC), issues related to body image have increased worldwide in the last 30 years among people of all ages. This increase is concerning given that having a negative body image often leads to disordered eating behaviors. When we are dissatisfied with our bodies, we are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors around food and exercise. Furthermore, feelings that arise from body dissatisfaction, such as shame and anxiety, can increase the chance of developing an eating disorder.
Individuals with negative body image often decide that losing weight will help them look and feel better about their bodies, which can lead to patterns such as restrictive eating, over-exercising, or purging. These actions and obsessive thoughts can then develop into anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, orthorexia, binge-eating disorder, compulsive overeating, or other disordered eating behaviors.
How Is Body Image Used in Eating Disorder Treatment?
Effective eating disorder treatment programs focus on building a healthy relationship with food and movement, improving confidence, and developing a healthy body image. A healthy body image improves self-esteem, self-acceptance, and healthy behaviors, leading to a more balanced lifestyle and a deeper connection and appreciation for the body and the mind.
Do you think you or a loved one might be struggling with issues related to body image? Here at BALANCE, we treat the whole spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other forms of disordered eating behavior and body image related issues. Whether the best fit for you is our day treatment program, week-night program, step-down groups, or individual nutrition sessions, we incorporate the development of a healthy body image into all of our levels of care.
Our Body Image Group also specifically addresses issues related to body dissatisfaction. In our Body Image Group, we explore our relationships with our bodies and learn how eating disorder behaviors and urges are often a result of the way in which emotions manifest in the physical body. This group is focused on challenging beauty ideals and accepting the natural shape of the body. We have the power to change the way we see, feel and think about our bodies. Our Body Image Group is open to any type of eating disorder.
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and our Body Image Group. Please click below to contact us or read more about our philosophy here. Fill out the form below to book a free 20-minute consultation call.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Intern, Sadie Grant.
Sadie is a recent graduate of Oberlin College with a B.A. in psychology. After recovering from disordered eating, Sadie became passionate about eating disorder awareness, body neutrality, and destabilizing beauty standards that are established by social and cultural norms. While earning her Bachelor’s degree, Sadie conducted quantitative research, worked with populations experiencing barriers to essential services, and studied Spanish. Sadie hopes to use her developing research and interpersonal skills to work in the field of eating disorders and address the way in which expectations around eating and beauty vary across different populations.
References
Body Image. (2018, February 22). Retrieved July 14, 2020, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/body-image-0
Body Image. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14, 2020, from https://www.nedc.com.au/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-explained/body-image/
Body Image & Eating Disorders. (2018, February 22). Retrieved July 14, 2020, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/body-image-eating-disorders
Body Image & Weight Issues: What Causes Negative Views. (2019, December 10). Retrieved July 14, 2020, from https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/body-image
Weingus, L. (2018, August 15). Inside The Body Image Movement That Doesn’t Focus On Your Appearance. Retrieved July 14, 2020, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-is-body-neutrality_n_5b61d8f9e4b0de86f49d31b4
