Let`s talk about body image

Body image refers to the body as a psychological experience. I think it is funny that we keep having these conversations about body image on social media without defining what body image is. Without understanding and separating the three aspects of your body image (perception, attitude, and behavior), how could you improve them?

Perception is what we see in the mirror, and this can be distorted, especially if someone struggles with an ED. An example of this would be: You look in the mirror and perceive your body as fat, even though your weight is in your average range. This distorted perception can lead you to see yourself differently from how others see you and cause feelings of low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with your body. This process is the attitude aspect of your body image, the thoughts, beliefs, and feelings you have based on your perception.

Your attitude is the meaning you make of your perception. If you believe being thin is essential for being accepted and worthy, you will likely hold the attitude that if you don't achieve the ideal body, you are unworthy. This attitude will likely lead to negative self-talk and unrealistic expectations, causing you to be dissatisfied with your body, even if you manage to change it and make it more societally acceptable.

The behavior aspect of your body image refers to the actions you take based on your perception and attitude toward your body. If you feel dissatisfied with your body and believe you need to lose weight to be happy or worthy, you can engage in unhealthy behavior such as purging your food.

We can perceive and feel certain things about our bodies, and it is unrealistic to expect only positive perceptions and attitudes regarding our bodies all the time. Most of us have bad body image days and compare ourselves to others occasionally. However, it is our behavior and what we actually do about our thoughts and feelings that will get us into trouble.

Your perception may take a long time to change, so, initially, focusing on your attitude and behavior is probably a better approach to improving your body image.

You can do many things, e.g., actively working to stop comparing yourself, learning to accept your natural size and shape, being grateful for what your body can do for you, challenging and reframing negative thoughts about your body by asking yourself, "So what?"

For example, if you perceive your thighs as too big, you can respond to this thought by telling yourself:

 "So what? My thighs are strong and help me move around and get shit done."