In the Twenty First Century with everything we have learnt about human psychology and mental well being, you may believe that we now know that judging others and ourselves on the way we look can be harmful. However, programmes such as Love Island and Social Media sites that are obsessed with what we wear and how we look, seems to be trying to teach young people very different lessons about what really matters and how we should value our body image.
Body image is how someone thinks and feels about themselves physically. A person has a healthy body image if they feel happy or satisfied with their body, but it’s not always as simple as that. Throughout history, people have given importance to the way they look and society helps shape these views. Many people have concerns about their body image and these concerns are often about: weight, skin, hair, or the shape or size of a specific body part. Statistics show that one in five adults (20%) felt shame, just over one third (34%) felt down or low, and 19% felt disgusted because of their body image in the last year.
Negative teenage body image results in low self- esteem, which can lead to negative moods, mood swings and a fragile sense of self. Young people tend to focus on the negative comparisons to what they see as the ‘perfect’ body.
To try and build resilience and improve our mental health, it helps to remember that beauty isn’t always about appearance. The way you act means a lot more than the way you look. You need to appreciate all the wonderful things your body does for you and try to not obsess over the way you look, in the long run this will become one of your least meaningful qualities.
The way we see ourselves influences our everyday lives. We can feel more in control of this, which can help us feel happier. Some of the ways we can improve the way we see ourselves include spending time with people who have a positive outlook about their own body image, because spending time with people who have a negative outlook on life can influence your own opinion.
Another way to take back control is to do something positive for yourself. This could include a pamper night or jotting down 3 things that have gone well in the day and thinking about how they affect your sense of self esteem.
Also, if you are struggling with negative body image you could look at different websites to help you. For example, Kooth. It’s free, easy to access and gives you advice on whatever you are struggling with whenever you need it.
Having anxiety about your body image is normal, but you don’t need to let it control your thoughts and behaviour. Get proactive and fight back. You are worth it!