Body Image

The topic of body image can be complex and sensitive. Everyone has a different relationship and feelings toward their own body image. Body image is defined as “how you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in your mind. It encompasses: What you believe about your own appearance, how you feel about your body, and how you sense and control your body as you move. How you feel in your body, not just about your body" (National Eating Disorder Association, 2016). 

 

 

 

TYPES OF BODY IMAGE

Positive Body Image:  Positive body image means you have a clear and realistic view of your body. You see and accept yourself as you are, and you understand that what you look like does not determine your value as a person (JED Foundation).

Negative Body Image: Negative body image means you have a distorted view of yourself, and it’s hard to accept yourself. Thinking about your body makes you feel self-conscious, uncomfortable, disgusted, sad, or anxious (JED Foundation).

 

SIGNS OF BODY DISSATISFACTION

  • Repetitive dieting behavior
  • Compulsive or excessive exercise patterns 
  • Valuing appearance as essential to self-worth
  • Checking appearance or measuring body parts
  • Spending a lot of time on appearance 
  • Thinking or talking about thinness, muscles. or physique
  • Monitoring appearance and attractiveness
  • Aspirational social comparison
  • Consistent negative talk about self or others
  • Body avoidance

 

(Source: National Eating Disorders Collaboration)

 

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR BODY IMAGE

Having a healthy body image is a process not something to be achieved. Many people with positive body images may have moments or days where they are not happy with the way they look or feel in their own skin. However, developing coping skills and shifting frames of thought can be helpful when these feelings do arise. Body positivity and body neutrality are two strategies that can help you begin to change your perspective and heal your body image (JED Foundation).

 

 Body Positivity: The basic idea behind body positivity is that all bodies are beautiful regardless of what they look like. It argues that people should feel good or have a positive view of their bodies exactly as they are (Jed Foundation). This could look like... 1.Put notes to self on your mirror about what you love about your body. When negative thoughts bubble up, challenge them with positive affirmations. 2.Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about your body and replace them with accounts that emphasize body positivity, body acceptance, and honesty. 3. Spend more time in pieces of clothing that make you feel more comfortable, confident, and proud of your body.

 

Body Neutrality: With body neutrality, you reframe your relationship with your body entirely. It’s not something to hate or love, it just is. It challenges not only traditional beauty standards but also the idea that appearance matters at all (Jed Foundation). This could look like...1. List what you’re thankful for when it comes to how your body works for you rather than your looks, such as your ability to breathe, laugh, sing, play sports, or dance. 2. Focus on other values by trying a new hobby, volunteer, or carve out quality time with loved ones doing activities focused on creativity or connection instead of things that bring your focus to your body. 3. Remind yourself that negative feelings and judgments about your body are simply reactions in your brain and don’t have to affect your ability to see yourself as worthy of love or respect.   

 

DISORDERED EATING

When feelings about body image become negative or disparaging, these feelings can sometimes manifest as behaviors of disordered eating to cope with the internal conflict of self-perception.

“Disordered eating refers to a spectrum of problematic eating behaviors and distorted attitudes towards food, weight, shape, and appearance. Often these behaviors include dieting, skipping meals, fasting, restricting food intake, eliminating specific foods or food groups, binge eating, excessive use of diuretics, laxatives, and weight loss medications, as well as the use of compensatory behaviors (purging, excessive exercising)" (National Eating Disorders Association).

However, it is important to note that experiencing disordered eating or having a negative body image does not always mean someone is experiencing an eating disorder. Eating disorders should always be diagnosed by a licensed clinician.

 

 

 

ON-CAMPUS RESOURCES

Health and Counseling Services: If you have concerns about the way you view and feel about your body or are worried about possible disordered eating behaviors you can make an appointment with one of 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s 5 fulltime fully licensed therapists. These providers offer walk-in crisis counseling, individual counseling appointments, and group counseling. All of these services are included in your wellness fee and free of charge. Health and Counseling Services can also provide referrals to community providers as needed.

Call (509)313-4052 or email studenthealth@gonzaga.edu to make a counseling or medical appointment. Walk-in crisis appointments are also available during regular business hours. 

The Office of Health Promotion

 

OFF-CAMPUS AND ONLINE RESOURCES

: This resource reviews how we create our self-image and ways to improve that self-image.

It can be easy to spend hours scrolling through social media comparing yourself to unrealistic, filtered, and edited faces and bodies leading to increased negative feelings about your own body. The JED foundation has developed this resource to help you understand the impacts of social media on body image and how you can adjust your social media habits and content to support better feelings about your body.

 Those with visible and nonvisible disabilities may have complex feelings about their body image, and some body image support strategies may be unrealistic or not applicable. This resource by NEDA shares the experience of a disabled Utah college student and how finding disability activism and claiming disability as a political term and personal identity has allowed them to start to moving past negative feelings about their body.

 This page includes resources, tips and advice specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing body image concerns. Read and hear lived experience insights and find relevant podcasts and news reports.

Body image isn't just a topic for women, men can struggle with body image, too. This resource is anyone who identifies as more masculine to support your positive self-image.

: The Emily Program is nationally recognized for its compassionate, evidence-based approach to eating disorder treatment and lifelong recovery. The Emily Program understands the tangled complexities of eating disorders, often from personal experience. The Emily Program’s team of experts, including therapists, dietitians, and medical staff, focuses on treating the whole person. The Spokane’s location offers support groups, therapy, and inpatient and outpatient care options.