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Body Image and Self-Esteem

January 13, 2015 Fay Agathangelou

A healthy body image is vital for a healthy self-esteem. It means being comfortable with your own body and it's your own perception. A poor body image can be damaging in so many ways. It's often associated with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and a range of other issues. The reality is that many people don’t like, or are ashamed of, their bodies.

What Causes Poor Body Image?

There are many factors that can cause poor body image. For example, messages about body images in the media, parents, teachers, peers, life experiences, abuse, negative thinking and societal expectations. We’re influenced a lot by what we see and hear. We often see images of models and celebrities with perfect bodies and faces. We’re conditioned to believe that people should look a particular way to be attractive and that is damaging.

It's important to note that your body image is what you think. It’s not defined by what others think, say or do. Other people can’t make you feel inadequate unless you let them.

Tips for a Healthy Body Image and Better Self-Esteem

  • Focus on being healthy rather than on body weight or appearance. Make health your focus and the rest will come. Healthy is beautiful.
  • Respect your body. Eat nutritious, whole, nourishing foods. Drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, sleep well and relax. Poor body image is damaging to your self-esteem. Understand the causes and get tips for having a healthy body image and better self-esteem here.
  • Avoid diets. Instead, focus on developing healthy habits that last.
  • Realise that healthy body weight can vary for different people. What matters is being in your healthy weight range.
  • Let go of perfectionism. You don’t have to be perfect or look a certain way to be beautiful. You're beautiful as you are, flaws and all.
  • Embrace your individuality. Your uniqueness makes you special.
  • Realise that beauty is subjective. You will never please everyone so focus on being comfortable within yourself.
  • Challenge your negative thoughts about your body and replace them with positives. Affirmations can help with this.
  • Know that the images you see in the media are usually enhanced. They distort the real picture. Common enhancements include removal of blemishes and making women look thinner. Conversely, men are often enhanced to look bigger.
  • Realise that many images in the media are not a picture of good health. Stick thin is not healthy for most people.
  • Take responsibility for your own perception. Only you can change the way you think.
  • Get professional help, particularly if your body image is interfering with your quality of life or if you’re experiencing other issues. Poor body image can be a serious problem and it's very common. There’s no shame in seeking help.

A healthy body image gives you better self-esteem and gives you the freedom to be yourself and to live life to the fullest. You deserve to be confident and happy and you can do it.

You can find Fay Agathangelou on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest and her website.

APA Reference
Agathangelou, F. (2015, January 13). Body Image and Self-Esteem, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, November 21 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/buildingselfesteem/2015/01/body-image-and-self-esteem



Author: Fay Agathangelou

Danielle
November, 5 2015 at 2:00 pm

This is great and all, but waaaaay easier said than done, especially when an eating disorder or other illness is your locus of control and you have zero motivation to change.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Fay Agathangelou
November, 5 2015 at 4:02 pm

Thanks for your comment Danielle. You've raised a good point about being "easier said than done, especially when you have an eating disorder, other illness" and "zero motivation to change." It can be challenging to do it alone, and it's important to know that there is professional help available.

Rouge Frances
January, 23 2015 at 10:31 pm

It is sad that our looks affect how highly we esteem our own value. I personally have struggled with self-esteem issues for all of my life. With me, a lot of my problems arose from fear, especially that of criticism and rejection. No matter how beautiful you think you are or are not, the only thing that makes a difference in the end is whether or not you accept and love yourself. Thanks for taking the time to write this post.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Fay Agathangelou
January, 24 2015 at 9:05 pm

Hi Rouge,
Thanks very much for your comment. Fear of criticism and rejection definitely interfere with self-esteem in a big way. They're key issues for a lot of people.
I love your words "the only thing that makes a difference in the end is whether or not you accept and love yourself." Very well said, thanks for sharing.
Fay

Jacky
January, 20 2015 at 8:30 pm

Absolutely beautiful article. Thank you for sharing!

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Fay Agathangelou
January, 22 2015 at 12:07 am

Thanks very much Jacky :)

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