Maintaining a Healthy Body Image Body Image Is

Maintaining a Healthy Body Image

Body Image Is… l How you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in your mind. l What you believe about your own appearance (memories, assumptions, and generalizations). l How you feel about your body, including your height, shape, and weight. l How you sense and control your body as you move. How you feel in your body, not just about your body.

Body Image Is…

Negative Body Image Is… l A distorted perception of your shape, you perceive parts of your body unlike they really are. l Your are convinced that only other people are attractive and that your body size/shape is a sign of personal failure. l You feel ashamed, self-conscious, and anxious about your body. l You feel uncomfortable and awkward in your body.

Positive Body Image Is… l A clear, true perception of your shape. You see the various parts of your body as they really are. l You appreciate your natural body shape and you understand that a person’s physical appearance say’s very little about their character and values as a person. l Your accepting of your unique body shape and you refuse to spend unreasonable amounts of time worrying about food/weight/calories etc.

So Why Is A Healthy Body Image So Important? l People with negative body images have a greater likelihood of developing eating disorders, suffer feelings of depression, isolation, low selfesteem and obsessions with weight loss. l We all may have our days when we feel awkward and uncomfortable in our bodies but the key to developing a healthy body image is to overpower/block out those negative thoughts and feelings with positive, affirming, and accepting ones.