THE’body image It is a complex combination of thoughts and feelings that we feel about our body.
The image of the body can vary between positive and negative experiences and a person can, in some moments, have a good self -image and in others try a strong dissatisfaction with respect to one’s body.
When a person is able to accept, appreciate and respect his body, it means that he has anpositive body image. This does not mean that he is satisfied with his body, on the contrary it can be dissatisfied with some aspects, but succeeds in accept it in all its limits.
Having a positive body image (positive body image) is important as it represents one of the protective factors that make the person less vulnerable to the development of a food disorder.
A positive body image is associated with:
- Greater self -esteem
- self -acceptance which makes the person less influenced by unrealistic images of the media and the pressure of the company
- attitude to healthy behavior which leads to follow a balanced lifestyle and in tune with the needs of the body.
What is body dissatisfaction?
The dissatisfaction of the body or body disfigation occurs when a person has negative thoughts and feelings persistent about your body.
The dissatisfaction of the body is an internal emotional and cognitive process, but is influenced by external factors such as social pressures In order to satisfy a certain ideal aspect.
Body disfigation can lead people to control their weight in a healthy way and turn towards a disordered diet that puts greater risk of developing a food disorder. See anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
What are the signs of body exoussing?
People who feel persistent body dissatisfaction can fix themselves on the attempt to change their shape shape, which in turn can lead to unhealthy behaviors with food, exercise and supplements.
Over time, these practices do not bring the desired results and intense feelings of disappointment, shame, guilt are generated and, ultimately, they increase the risk of developing a food disorder.
What are the signals to pay attention to recognize a persistent body dissatisfaction?
- Diet rigidity (e.g. fasting, calorie count, skipping meals, avoidance of certain groups of food)
- Excessive and compulsive exercise (for example, lack days for rest/recovery, and strong anguish if it is not possible to do programmed physical activity)
- Baying your self -esteem on the appearance (for example, having the belief that you cannot be successful, be appreciated or be loved if you are not attractive, fit …)
- Physical checks (e.g. control of your body shapes in the mirror, or by measuring or pinching the skin)
- Dedicate a lot of time to appearance, to the hair, makeup, choice of clothes
- Think or speak a lot about thinness, muscles or physical
- Speak in a negative and devaluing way of one’s body (or that of others) if it is not part of the canons of aesthetic perfection
- Constant car car (e.g. monitoring of one’s appearance in social situations)
- Self-objectiveness (when people see themselves as objects to see and evaluate on the basis of mere appearance)
- Compare themselves to other people to aspire to resemble
- Avoidance of the body (avoid situations in which body image can cause anxiety, for example swimming).
Who is at risk of dissatisfaction with the body?
Any person, at any phase of his life, can experience dissatisfaction with his body.
However, the following factors make some people more vulnerable, than others, to develop a negative body image.
- Age: pre -adolescence and adolescence are the periods of life in which the body undergoes more changes and therefore it is a critical moment for the development of the body image, however dissatisfaction can manifest itself in people of all ages.
- Gender: women are more likely to experience a negative body image.
- Gender dysphoria: people with gender dysphoria are more likely to try body disfigation than people without gender dysphoria.
- Contacts with friends and family who follow a diet and express constant concerns relating to the body image
- Body dimensions: people with high weight have a high risk of experimenting body dissatisfaction
- Low self -esteem and/or depression
- Bullying experiences
- Personality traits: people with perfectionism traits, high standards and rigidity of thought have a greater risk of are at greater risk of developing dissatisfaction with the body
How can we improve the image of our body?
There is no right or wrong when it comes to weight, shape, size and appearance.
Challenging the ideals of beauty and learning to accept the shape of your body is a crucial step towards a positive body image.
We have the power to change the way we see, we feel and think about our body.
Here are some useful tips to improve body image:
- Focus on ours positive qualities, skills and talentscan help us accept and really appreciate ourselves in our globality and not reduce everything to mere physical appearance.
- Say positive things to ourselves every day
- Avoid negative and often judging inner dialogue
- Focus on appreciating and respect What the body can do will help us feel more positive
- Establish positive and health focused objectives (which are more advantageous for general well -being) rather than those related to weight
- Avoid comparing yourself to othersbut accept yourself by remembering one’s uniqueness
- Stop following or remove friends from social media that trigger negative thoughts and experiences on body image
- Ask for help: Adequate professional support can be of great help to change negative beliefs compared to one’s body and non -healthy behaviors that derive from it. In this way we come to the construction of a positive body image and the development of important problems such as eating disorders is prevented.
