Understanding Body Image Issues: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
What are body image issues and how do we fight them?
What do you think of the person staring back at you from a mirror?
Do you wish you were different?
If your answer to the last question is yes, you’ve got body image issues, and you’re not alone.
A whopping 97% of women reported having hateful thoughts about their bodies at least once a day, and a Mental Health Foundation survey revealed that 28% of adult men have felt anxious about their body image.
Still, many don’t know what body image issues are. In fact, a negative body image is sometimes mistaken as healthy.
In this article, I’ll define body image and explain its aspects and types. We’ll dive deep into the causes and consequences of negative body image. Then we’ll check if you have body image issues and discuss five ways to improve it.
What is body image?
As the term implies, body image is your perception of your body. It is your thoughts, beliefs, and feelings about your physical appearance, mostly related to weight, skin, shape, gender identity, and other features of your appearance.
