Learn to Have a Positive Body Image – Part 1

Western society has valued thinness since Twiggy burst on the fashion landscape in 1966 and began the love affair of the fashion industry with women who are a size 2 and smaller. This affair has become so ingrained into society that the number of infomercials selling diet and exercise products only continues to rise year after year. The weight loss industry is a multibillion-dollar concern that capitalizes on negative body images which men and women who are children, teens and adults and seniors get from the intense advertising campaigns and marketing ploys used by fashion designers and makeup divas. Some of these infomercials actually focus on senior population, using models who say they are over 60 but don’t look a day over 45.

Through all of this advertising and marketing we have also come to believe that the shape of our bodies is completely under our control. Unfortunately, this just isn’t true because, while we may be able to affect a number on the scale, where that weight is attributed on our body depends upon other factors.

Learning to have a positive body image is not related to numbers on the scale, dress sizes or body measurements. And, since technology to change the shape of our bodies does not exist, it’s time to start living and loving what we were born with.

The first trap that we all fall into is believing that we must achieve an ideal that is produced and driven solely in the media. This particular trap is difficult for women to overlook because they not only see themselves in a negative light but believe that men, who also see the same advertising and media campaigns, also see them in a negative light.