Body Image

The expression “body image” is a phrase we often hear about in the media. Why is our body image so powerful? Why does it affect the messages we create about ourselves and our self-worth?

Body image involves our perception, imagination and emotions about our bodies. It’s not fixed, but changes. It is sensitive to changes in mood, environment (culture and media) and physical experience. It is not usually based on fact. It is psychological in nature, and much more influenced by self-esteem than by actual physical attractiveness as judged by others. When body image is discussed we automatically think of weight issues. However, body image can be affected by bad skin, a big nose, freckles, wearing glasses or having red hair. Basically anything we assess as not fitting in with the perceived “norm” can affect how we negatively feel about our body image.

Theorists have suggested that we live in a culture that idealises thinness. Images of men and women in the media, advertising and popular culture are “censored” in that they emphasise beauty, youth and thinness. Advertisers promote the “perfect body.” The diet, exercise, cosmetic surgery and beauty industries are the fastest growing in our society. People want to fit in.

The important question is—how do the messages we tell ourselves about our body image affect our lives? When we look in the mirror or hear comments from others, we automatically give ourselves labels.

Labels are incredibly powerful influences in our life. We may not be consciously aware of even a fraction of our labels, whether they come from the outside world or from within ourselves. Possible labels might include: I am fat, skinny, ugly, awkward or too tall or short. These labels then manifest into feelings about our ability to succeed or our chances of failing in life. For example, a boy might see himself as too tall, long and lanky. This continues into feelings of clumsiness, and progresses into thoughts that girls will not be attracted to him. The behaviour that follows is the boy not bothering to put himself forward and make friends. You can see by this simple example how vicious the cycle can become and how it can impact your life.

Negative behaviours generated by labels about body image, can include self-harming, eating disorders, having a distorted ego, an obsession with plastic surgery or being a recluse. Once again, these messages affect the choices we make for our lives and sends messages to the world about how we view ourselves and how the world should treat us.

The old cliché “It is what’s on the inside that counts, not the outside” is very important in maintaining a healthy body image. It is no use being beautiful if you are nasty. We might meet people who are viewed by society as not being overly attractive, but they exude confidence. This boils down to having a healthy self-esteem. The bottom line is that God made us who we are. He knew us before we were born and loved us for the being He created. We also need to learn to love ourselves and to receive our value from God, not from society, peers and our culture.