body image and mental health
Body image is shaped by various factors, including personal beliefs, societal standards and media representations. It influences how comfortable you feel in your skin and how you think others view your appearance. Struggling with your body image can lead to self-doubt and mental health issues.
Negative body image can come in many different forms:
- Worrying about your weight
- Comparing how you look with your friends, family or people in the media, on the internet and social media
- Feeling underrepresented in the media
- Feeling unattractive
- Struggling to find clothes you feel comfortable in because of how they look on your body
- Feeling ashamed of your body.
According to Mental Health Foundation, one in five UK adults have felt shame because of their body image. It’s also estimated that younger people and those from the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to have concerns with their body image. Therefore, it’s important that you take active steps to feel happy and confident in your body. In this page, we will explore what body image is and provide practical tips to help you build a positive relationship with your body.
Common myths about body image
loving your body will give you happiness
While the idea of loving your body may seem good, it can be a difficult goal for many people who struggle with body image. What your body needs is respect, appreciation and care.
a change of body can fix body image issues
These issues come from a psychological and emotional experience and can be caused by societal pressures, media, trauma and genetics. Addressing them may require therapy, education and social change.
only women are affected by body image issues
Body image problems can impact everyone, who may experience pressure to confirm to societal beauty standards.
Causes of negative body image
Negative thoughts about your body image are typically influenced by your day-to-day life. In the age of social media and television, it can be hard to escape looking at other people’s appearance. The media you consume may also promote one type of body as the ‘desired’ look with little representation of other bodies. Research demonstrates that 20% of Scottish adults said images used in advertising had caused them to worry about their body image. 32% of young people believe that social media content had them worrying about their body image. This all may lead to you comparing yourself, which results in a negative body image.
Our relationships with family and friends can influence our body image. People in your life may also comment on your appearance such as wearing certain clothes due to your body. These comments and experiences may also lead to negative body image, which can impact your quality of life and mental health.
body image
and mental health
Negative body image can affect anyone at any stage in their life. If you are struggling with how you look and how you think others perceive you, it may make day-to-day tasks, such as leaving the house and socialising, feel almost impossible. Research finds that higher body dissatisfaction is associated with a poorer quality of life, psychological distress and unhealthy eating behaviours.
While body image concerns are not a mental health condition, these concerns can manifest into mental health conditions. Having ongoing feelings of negative body image can lead to:
- Anxiety: negative body image can trigger anxiety, especially in social situations where one may feel scrutinised or judged for their appearance. Fear of judgement or rejection can lead to social isolation and avoidance.
- Depression: persistent dissatisfaction with one’s body can contribute to feelings of hopelessness, sadness and may lead to developing depression.
- Eating Disorders: you may develop various eating disorders, including body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), if you feel the need to change your body due to experiencing negative body image.
- Obsessive-compulsive behaviours: some people with body image issues may develop obsessive-compulsive behaviours related to appearance, such as constantly checking their reflection, excessive grooming, or engaging in rituals to mask perceived flaws.
- Negative coping mechanisms: some people may turn to harmful coping mechanisms such as substance use, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or disordered eating patterns to cope with distressing body image related thoughts and feelings.
Steps to take
If you feel like you are struggling with your body image, there are many things you can do and steps you can take to help change your negative thought pattern:
Focus on all the positive aspects of your body: Your body keeps you alive and it is your home. It’s important to remember all the amazing things your body is capable of. Focus on one aspect of your body that you like and build from there.
Take a step back from social media: It can be hard to focus on the positive things about your body when comparing yourself to others. There can be so much pressure online to look a certain way, stepping away from social media can reduce this pressure.
Focus on nutrition: It is important to know that you need to eat healthily. Getting the proper nutrients is important in maintaining both your physical and mental health.
Set boundaries: If people in your life comment on your body, or bodies in general, try to set boundaries by telling them you are not comfortable hearing or partaking in these types of conversations.
Reach out to a loved one: Talking to someone you trust about how you feel is invaluable. Confide in them about your experiences and feelings and remember they love you and want to help you flourish. You can also engage in peer support with someone who might have gone through similar experiences.
Seek support: Below, you will find support avenues to help you improve your mental health when having concerns about your body image. It’s important to get support early to address these concerns in a timely manner.
support
Our Advice and Support Service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm), where advisers can signpost you to local support that most fits your needs, including our Change Mental Health services. We offer initial advice on money worries and help to deal with emergencies.
Contact 0808 8010 515, email us at advice@changemh.org or fill out the enquiry form on the Advice and Support Service page.
Other support
Beat is a leading charity for eating disorder support and our support page lists places you can contact if you need urgent help.
SupportED or NEEDS are Scottish charities that offer various forms of support, including peer support groups, befriending and support for carers of people diagnosed with eating disorders.
CarED hosts tutorials for people and offers an online database of services within Scotland.
