Our physical appearance is something that we all care about, to a greater or lesser extent. We live in a culture where looking and having the “perfect” body is everything. Our physical appearance can be an enormous mental burden on us, particularly for young people who are still forming a sense of identity.
What is body image?
Body image is our personal view of our physical selves, including ideas, feelings, and behaviors related to how we look. Media depictions, cultural influences, and personal experiences combine to create a complicated tapestry. Regardless of social standards, a good body image involves appreciating and accepting one’s inherent shape and size, and realizing that self-worth is not solely dependent on physical appearance. On the other hand, a poor body image can cause unhappiness, worry, and perhaps even eating disorders.
Adverse Effects of Negative Body Image
Eating Disorders
One of the most significant ways in which body image impacts mental health is by triggering the development of eating disorders. Conditions such as anorexia and bulimia are often caused by the way a person perceives their own body. People may feel overweight even if they are so thin that their health is at risk. This feeling of being overweight may contribute to drastic dieting, including severe food abstinence or purging. Such behaviors have severe physical consequences, but the most significant problem is mental.
Low self-esteem
It is not uncommon for poor body image to be related to low self-esteem. Constant exposure to the image of “perfect bodies” through various forms of media coverage can leave people dissatisfied with their own looks. And that can produce depression, anxiety, and even a sense of social withdrawal. Young people are especially susceptible to such harmful effects, given that they are still developing their sense of identity and self-esteem.
Body image affects men as well
It’s not just girls, however, who have experienced problems with body image. Boys and young men, meanwhile, are under their own kind of pressure to have a specific type of muscular, athletic look. This may result in using steroids or over-exercising as a way out to achieve an unrealistic body goal. Once more, the problem is primarily mental, and that person feels like their worth as an individual is connected to how they look.
Helping Create a Body Positive Mindset
The good news is that there are things we can do to resolve these issues and improve mental health. Counseling and therapy can be beneficial in helping people develop a healthier, more realistic perspective of their bodies. There is something to be said for assisting young girls to practice self-acceptance and body positivity. We must remember that beauty is not a one-size-fits-all, and our value as human beings is not measured by the way we look.
The effect of physical appearance and mental well-being isn’t only a big problem, but it’s prevalent among youth. By addressing the mental problems that lead to this and by developing a more body-positivity and accepting culture, we can prevent some of these ugly effects everywhere.
Supporting Mental Health at Arbor Wellness
Arbor Wellness is here to support your mental health and help you feel good about yourself. We know accepting yourself can be tough, but with guidance, anyone can do it. Our focus is on healing the whole person.
We recognize the interconnectedness of mental, physical health, and self-esteem. We would like to help promote the positive mental health and positive self-regard needed to help people re-evaluate how they view themselves and others. Improving our lives is possible through mutual support, and this fosters the cultivation of a health, kindness, and self-acceptance-oriented culture.
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9970735/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11276240/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6125080/
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/body-image-and-eating-disorders/
https://womenshealth.gov/mental-health/body-image-and-mental-health/body-image
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/02/social-media-body-image
https://now.org/now-foundation/love-your-body/love-your-body-whats-it-all-about/get-the-facts/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/self-esteem/art-20045374
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-worth-6543764
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-esteem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_positivity
https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/body-shaming
https://www.webmd.com/men/anabolic-steroids
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/body-positivity
