Body image is also formed through cultural and familial interactions with mom, dad, friends and school peer groups. When individuals are accepted by their family for who they are or what they are and not what size clothing they fit into they are also more likely to accept their own body and move forward through life. However, when mom consistently compares the size of one person’s hips to another or feeds the brother more food to bulk up while asking the sister not to eat and stay thin, the child is more likely to have a distorted view of what their actual body image is.
But don’t feel alone if you feel that you have a negative body image. Unfortunately, women in the United States are under a great deal of pressure to measure up to this specific cultural ideal. Images in the media, the stress of daily living on a standard Western diet all contribute to many Americans facing a crisis in obesity.
Researchers understand that a healthy body is not linked to appearance. And, neither should body image. A healthy body is linked to diet, nutrition, sleep habits, and lifestyle choices. It is more important to make good choices without disease or illness than to be stick thin. In fact, healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes and learning to incorporate a healthy lifestyle choice will lead to a positive body image. Other things that affect our body image range from the foods that we eat, which can affect our mood, to the relationships we keep and the hurts from our past.
References:
(1) Health Canal: University of Michigan Researchers to Study Student Attitudes on Eating and Body Image
(2) University of Virginia Women’s Center: Body Positive
http://womenscenter.virginia.edu/body-positive.php
Resources:
University of California Los Angeles: Body Image
http://www.snac.ucla.edu/documents/BodyImage2010.pdf
Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario: Formation of Body Image
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