Change Your World Week Winter 2023 (Archived)

Body image is the mental picture one forms of one's own body.

Body image is the way we view ourselves physically. It's the way we internally and externally talk about ourselves based on our physical appearance.    

• When people develop a negative body image, they have a greater likelihood of developing an eating disorder. 
• Negative body image can lead to depression, low self-esteem, and isolation. 
• People experiencing a negative body image can become obsessed with trying to change their body shape, which can lead to unhealthy practices such as with exercise, supplements, or food.

"You define beauty yourself. Society doesn't define your beauty." - Lady Gaga

• Body dissatisfaction is the best-known contributor to the development of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
• By age 6, girls especially start to express concerns about their own weight or shape, and 40-60% of elementary school girls (ages 6-12) are concerned about their weight or about becoming too fat.
• Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives.
• 90% of male US students described themselves as being dissatisfied with respect to muscularity.
• 20% to 40% of women are dissatisfied with their bodies. Nevertheless, body dissatisfaction is also reported in men, suggesting that 10% to 30% of men show body dissatisfaction.

Social media exposes its users to thousands of videos and photos every day, including those of models or fitness influencers. This leads to an internalization of beauty ideals that are extremely unattainable, resulting in a negative body image. 

1. Encourage brands to start including all body types in their advertisements and campaigns. Furthermore, support the brands that celebrate bodies of all size (e.g. Aerie).
2. Be mindful of how you speak to others and avoid sayings things like:
   1. "Have you lost weight?"
   2. "You are so lucky you have a fast metabolism."
   3. "Do I look fat?"
   4. "You must be having a cheat day today."
3. Focus more on health, not a number on the scale. In order to be healthy at every size, we should do the following:
   1. Exercise because it feels good.
   2. Eat when you're hungry.
   3. Stop eating when you're full.
   4. Don't restrict yourself from certain foods.
4. Don't let industry standards tell you what size is right for you - you just need to be your own best version of who and what you want to be. 

“Body Image.” National Eating Disorders Association, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/body-image-0.

“Body Image.” National Eating Disorders Collaboration, https://nedc.com.au/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-explained/body-image/.

Kayfetz, Elise. “The Importance of Body Positivity and Inclusivity.” Room For Her, 27 June 2022, https://roomforher.ca/blog/body/the-importance-of-body-positivity-and-inclusivity/.

Quittkat, Hannah, et al. “Body Dissatisfaction, Importance of Appearance, and Body Appreciation in Men and Women Over the Lifespan.” National Library of Medicine, 17 Dec. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6928134/.

“Teenage Girls Body Image Statistics.” Health Research Funding, https://healthresearchfunding.org/teenage-girls-body-image-statistics/.