BODY POSITIVITY. IT'S A PERSONAL MINDSET AND JOURNEY UNIQUE TO EACH PERSON.
Our body-shaming self-talk must stop.
RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW.
In our lame attempts to chase perfection and beauty, we have created a culture of body shaming.
Our internal dialogue says horrible things about ourselves that we would never speak about our best friends.
I’m not as thin as magazine cover models.
My muscles aren’t as toned as the athletes on ESPN.
If only I were taller.
Maybe a little Botox will make me feel better.
Cut this negative self-talk crap out now!
AND HOW ABOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE?
Even worse than our body-shaming is the role that social media plays. Social media and keyboard warriors continue to attack.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE
Even worse than our own body-shaming is the role that social media plays. Social media and keyword warriors continue to attack. Elizabeth Ries, a co-host on Twin Cities Live, shared with viewers the horrible messages she received about a pair of jeans she wore during a live report.
Studies have shown that girls as young as 5-years-old restrict their caloric intake based on a thin-ideal—media exposure of one of the greatest influencers.
HEALTH EFFECTS
Body-shaming, specifically fat-shaming, has the opposite intended outcome. Results indicate that “motivating” or “encouraging” someone to lose weight has the opposite effect in the psyche and the results are weight gains.
Additionally, obese individuals that have been body-shamed or discriminated against based on their weight are 3.2 times more likely to remain in the obese category.
Body-shaming has a lasting impact. A four-year study found that discrimination based on weight, physical disability, and appearance resulted in poorer health, lower life satisfaction, and higher loneliness.
And if you really want you mind blown, check out my post on how MEN AVOID SEX because of the shame they feel about their bodies.
BODY POSITIVITY
The term “body positive” was coined in 1996 after a psychotherapist and a patient seeking treatment for an eating disorder founded thebodypositive.org.
Simply put, body positivity is the idea that we deserve to have a positive body image regardless of whatever crap is posted on Instagram or streaming on social media.
The body positivity movement, illustrated in the Dove marketing campaign, encompasses four goals.
Confronting societal views of the body
Encouraging the acceptance of ALL bodies
Emboldening individuals to love their body
Tackling unrealistic body benchmarks
HEALTH BENEFITS
Psychological research focused on women has identified that the idea of self-love and body appreciation results in higher self-esteem and general optimism.
Similarly, men with positive body images also exhibited higher self-esteem. Moreover, men who practice body positivity rated high life satisfaction, so keep those compliments coming! It's so important for all of us as individuals and also as couples to compliment each other daily on our beautiful bodies.
Note: Even though the idea of body positivity has been around for over 20 years, studies have yet to be conducted analyzing sexual orientations and positive body image. The vast majority of body image studies focus on women, but numbers growing by the day, even for men (be sure to check out my blog on The Unspoken Truth Behind Body-Shaming and the Masculine.
The mental health of high self-esteem and optimism translates to physical health benefits. The Mayo Clinic reports that positive thinking can lower rates of depression, improve cardiovascular health, and increase life span.
Love your body—ALL OF IT!
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