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Eating
Disorders: Women and Body Image
by Amy Magnuson, MS, RD
Everywhere we look, the media sets a standard of attractiveness that most people in the world cannot and should not measure up to. Even though most of us are aware of these influences, it is easy to lose sight of how pervasive they are and how they can interfere with a healthy body image.
Most women are more comfortable focusing on their weaknesses than on their strengths. It is often easier to put ourselves down than it is to call attention to an achievement or to praise ourselves in front of our friends. It has become second nature to focus on our flaws.
When we feel inadequate and ashamed of our bodies, we often end up placing narrow limits on ourselves. We may miss the joys of swimming with others because we feel ashamed to put on a bathing suit, or we miss out on an enjoyable dinner with friends because we don’t want to eat around others.
Taken to the extreme, many women may even risk their health through cosmetic surgery or repeated crash dieting. Women may feel so desperate and convinced that they are unattractive, they will place themselves in dangerous situations by taking pills or having unnecessary surgeries done.
Below are some suggestions on how to improve our body image as we learn how to eat more healthfully:
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Wear only clothing that fits properly. Clothes that fit well tend to flatter the positive aspects of our body. Clothing that is not too tight or too loose can also increase our self esteem. If you find yourself tempted to look at larger sizes than what you normally wear, remind yourself that you are looking in the wrong place and that you need to look at clothes that fit your body – not your body image.
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Avoid negative self-talk, this can often make us act in ways that are not good for our health, fitness and overall well-being.
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Focus on positive aspects of you as a person, not just what is seen on the outside.
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We all have certain characteristics that we should be proud of, but we tend to forget what really matters and we focus on small, meaningless details about ourselves.
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Look at other people’s bodies. Instead of focusing on pictures in magazines or images on television, look at other people at work, in restaurants, at the airport or in stores. Also remember that what counts is how people feel about themselves, not what their actual weights and body shapes are. Simply noticing and appreciating the wide variety of realistic body types helps us feel better about our own.
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Ask friends for a reality check. The next time you are out with friends, point out someone you think has the same body type and weight as you do. Then, ask your friend to confirm this for you. Many of us tend to compare ourselves negatively, rather than positively, to others. These kinds of reality checks help close the gap between how you really look and how you think you look.
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Discuss negative feelings and body image concerns with a professional. A psychological and nutritional consultation can be helpful in sorting out negative feelings and developing a healthy eating plan.
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Developing a realistic body image can help with the goal of achieving and maintaining a weight that enables us to be fit and healthy.
