self esteem and body image essay

Self-Esteem and Body Acceptance: A Guide to Unlocking Confidence

As we delve into the profound interplay of the self-acceptance journey, it's intriguing to note that scientific research has revealed a compelling connection between positive self-esteem and overall well-being. Studies indicate that individuals with a strong sense of self-worth tend to experience lower levels of stress, improved mental health, and even enhanced resilience in the face of life's challenges. This underscores the profound impact that cultivating self-love can have on one's holistic health.

Short Description

Dive into the realm of self-discovery and empowerment with our guide! Our expert essay writers online will unravel the intricacies of healthy self-esteem, exploring its definition, significance, and steps to embrace your true self. Gain practical insights and actionable tips for building self confidence, fostering self-love, and overcoming negative thought patterns. Join us on this transformative journey, where we'll empower you with the knowledge and tools to cultivate a positive self-image and live life authentically. Discover the keys to unlocking your full potential and embracing the best version of yourself!

What is Self Esteem

Self-esteem definition compares to the bedrock of our emotional well-being, influencing how we perceive and navigate the world around us. It encompasses our overall sense of self-worth, self-respect, and confidence in our abilities. It is the acknowledgment that our worth is not contingent on external validation, achievements, or societal standards. Instead, it is the recognition of our unique qualities and the intrinsic value we bring to the world.

Self-regard is closely tied to confidence and a belief in one's abilities. It involves recognizing and appreciating our competence in various aspects of life, whether it be work, relationships, or personal endeavors. Think of self-image as the fuel that propels a person to take on challenges, believing they have the skills and capabilities to navigate through them successfully.

According to our psychology essay writing service , while self-esteem and self-confidence are interconnected, they aren't synonymous. Self-confidence relates more to belief in one's abilities and specific skills, while self-regard is a broader concept that encompasses one's overall sense of worth. Someone with strong self-esteem may approach challenges not only with confidence in their abilities but also with a fundamental belief in their inherent value, regardless of the outcome.

Healthy Self-Image: Individuals with healthy self-image exhibit a balanced sense of self-worth. They appreciate their strengths, acknowledge areas for growth, and maintain a positive outlook on life. A healthy self-image allows for resilience in the face of challenges and a greater capacity for self-acceptance.

• Example: A person with a healthy self-image might view a mistake as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than as a reflection of their overall worth.

Unhealthy Self-Image: On the flip side, an unhealthy self-image manifests in extremes—either as an inflated sense of superiority or a constant self-doubt and self-criticism. Both scenarios hinder personal growth and can lead to challenges in relationships, work, and overall well-being.

• Example: An unhealthy self-image can be likened to walking on a tightrope; it's a precarious balancing act that can tip towards arrogance or crippling self-doubt.

Ready to trade self-doubt for a front-row seat in your own success story?

Order your paper now - because, my friend, you deserve a confidence boost that's louder than a marching band in a library.

The Significance of Self Esteem

So, why is self-approval so pivotal, you may wonder? It serves as the cornerstone of our mental and emotional well-being, threading its influence into every aspect of our lives.

Picture this: With a healthy self-image, we become architects of our own narratives, confidently navigating the twists and turns of life. Confidence in our abilities, a positive self-image, and resilience in adversity all sprout from the fertile ground of robust self-esteem.

Take a moment to ponder: What if every decision, every interaction, and every pursuit in your life was guided by a profound sense of self-worth? How might your perception of challenges transform if you approached them with the unwavering belief that you possess the strength to overcome them?

Consider instances when your self-approval served as a compass, directing you towards growth, resilience, and genuine self-appreciation. Conversely, reflect on moments when a wavering self-esteem may have hindered your progress or clouded your perception of your own capabilities.

As we navigate the intricate terrain of our emotions, let's recognize that self-respect isn't a static destination but a dynamic journey. It's the continuous exploration of our worth, understanding our strengths, and accepting our imperfections.

So, for a second, let's leave you with this: How might nurturing and elevating your self-approval enhance your journey toward personal fulfillment? What steps can you take today to cultivate a more robust and resilient sense of self-worth, steering your life towards a richer tapestry of experiences?

What Causes Low Self Esteem: Exploring the Factors

Understanding the roots of low self-image is a crucial step in the journey toward building a more positive self-image. Various factors contribute to this complex phenomenon, shaping our perception of ourselves and influencing the lens through which we view the world.

1. Negative Childhood Experiences: Childhood lays the foundation for our self-concept. Harsh criticism, neglect, or consistent negative feedback during formative years can significantly impact self-approval.

• Reflect: How might early experiences shape our sense of self-worth in adulthood?

2. Unhealthy Comparison: The pervasive habit of comparing ourselves to others, often fueled by societal expectations and social media, can breed feelings of inadequacy and diminish self-worth.

• Reflect: In what ways do you find yourself comparing your journey to others, and how does it affect your self-respect?

3. Perfectionism and Unrealistic Standards: Setting unrealistically high standards and striving for perfection can lead to a constant sense of failure, eroding self-valuation over time.

• Reflect: How do your own expectations contribute to feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt?

4. Critical Self-Talk: The way we talk to ourselves matters. A persistent pattern of negative self-talk, often rooted in self-criticism, can significantly impact self-regard.

• Reflect: Are you mindful of your internal dialogue, and how does it influence your perception of yourself?

5. External Validation Dependency: Relying solely on external validation for a sense of self-worth can create a fragile foundation, as it leaves us vulnerable to the unpredictable nature of others' opinions.

• Reflect: How much of your self-worth is tied to external approval, and what impact does it have on your self-respect?

6. Life Transitions and Setbacks: Significant life changes, failures, or setbacks can challenge our sense of competence and self-worth, contributing to feelings of inadequacy.

• Reflect: How do you cope with life transitions, and how might they influence your self-respect?

7. Lack of Body Acceptance: Discontent with one's body, fueled by societal beauty standards and media influence, can contribute to low self-regard. Failure to embrace and appreciate the uniqueness of one's body may lead to feelings of inadequacy.

• Reflect: How does your relationship with your body influence your overall sense of self-worth, and what steps can you take toward greater body positivity?

Defining the Concept of Body Acceptance

Having examined the factors contributing to low self-valuation, let's now shift our focus to a vital aspect of cultivating positive self-worth—body acceptance. This concept extends beyond the physical realm, influencing how we perceive ourselves and, consequently, our overall self-love.

• Embracing body positivity involves challenging conventional beauty standards. It encourages a shift away from comparing ourselves to unattainable ideals and fosters an appreciation for the unique beauty inherent in each individual.
• Fostering a positive body image requires cultivating a positive self-image. Rather than focusing on perceived flaws, this aspect encourages us to appreciate the remarkable capabilities and uniqueness that define our bodies.
• Media portrayal significantly shapes our perception of body image. Self-compassion involves critically examining media messages, empowering us to filter out unrealistic ideals and cultivate a more authentic relationship with our bodies.
• Physical self-acceptance emphasizes the importance of establishing a harmonious mind-body connection. Recognizing the intrinsic link between physical and mental well-being allows us to appreciate and care for our bodies in a holistic manner.

Effects of Low Self-Esteem and Body Image on Lives

Low self-worth and negative body image can cast a shadow over various aspects of our lives, influencing not only how we perceive ourselves but also shaping our interactions with the world. Understanding what causes low self esteem allows us to explore the multifaceted effects across mental well-being, eating disorders, and the influence of media on self-perception and esteem. Let's delve into the interconnected factors that contribute to these challenges and explore avenues for positive change.

Challenges in Mental Well-being

Low self-respect is intricately linked to mental health challenges. Individuals grappling with diminished self-worth may experience heightened stress, anxiety, and even depression. The negative thought patterns associated with low self esteem and poor body image can become a constant companion, undermining one's confidence and resilience in the face of life's challenges.

Impact: How might the challenges posed by low self-esteem tend to affect your overall mental well-being, and what strategies could be employed to foster a more positive self-image?

Disorders Related to Eating

A strained relationship with one's body often intertwines with disorders related to eating. Individuals with low self-respect and negative body image may be more susceptible to conditions such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder. The pursuit of an idealized physical appearance, fueled by societal expectations, can lead to unhealthy behaviors and a distorted perception of one's physical self.

Impact: Consider how low self-worth may contribute to or exacerbate eating disorders and what steps can be taken to promote a healthier physical self-perception.

Media's Impact on Self-Perception and Esteem

The pervasive influence of media can significantly shape how individuals perceive themselves. Unrealistic beauty standards depicted in the media can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and fuel negative perceptions of one's physical appearance. Constant exposure to curated images can create an unhealthy comparison, leading to a distorted self-perception and diminished self-respect.

Impact: Reflect on how media consumption influences your self-perception and what measures can be taken to mitigate its impact on your self-worth.

Impact of Negative Thoughts on Low Self Esteem and Body Dissatisfaction

Negative thoughts wield a profound influence on our self-worth, shaping how we perceive ourselves. Challenging these thoughts is vital for recognizing how to stop negative self talk and foster a healthier mindset. Here are key factors contributing to this impact:

• Comparative Self-Talk : Negative self-talk fosters comparisons, generating thoughts like 'I don't measure up.' This constant measuring against others can lead to dissatisfaction with one's body and overall self-regard.
• Perfectionist Standards : The pursuit of perfection, fueled by thoughts like 'I must be flawless,' contributes to unrealistic expectations. Falling short of these ideals can trigger dissatisfaction and perpetuate negative body image.
• Social Media Influence: Exposure to curated images on social media intensifies negative body image. Thoughts such as 'I should look like them' contribute to dissatisfaction and a distorted self-perception.
• Catastrophic Thinking : Catastrophizing, anticipating the worst outcomes, can manifest as thoughts like 'If I gain weight, my life will unravel.' This fear-driven thinking intensifies body dissatisfaction.
• Overgeneralization and Self-Worth : Overgeneralizing negative experiences, like thinking 'I failed; I am a failure,' diminishes self-worth. This thought pattern influences overall self-respect and perceptions of one's body.

How to Build Self Esteem: Take These 11 Actions!

Building self-respect is a deeply personal journey that requires introspection, self-compassion, and intentional steps. Let our custom research paper writing experts delve into each action with more profound insights, self esteem boosters, personal examples, and additional details:

Break Free from People-Pleasing Habits

One crucial step in knowing how to build confidence and self-esteem is breaking free from people-pleasing habits. Constantly seeking approval from others can undermine your confidence and sense of self-worth. Instead, focus on your own needs and priorities. Practice setting healthy boundaries and saying no when necessary. Remember, your worth is not determined by the approval of others but by your own self-respect and authenticity.

Example : If you find yourself constantly agreeing with others to avoid conflict, challenge yourself to express your own opinions. It might be uncomfortable at first, but over time, this shift will reinforce a stronger sense of self. This will also help you master how to improve communication skills .

Tip : Start by identifying situations where you tend to people-please, and consciously make an effort to assert your own preferences and boundaries in those situations.

Acknowledge Your Positive Qualities with a Self-Admiration List

Creating a self-admiration list is a powerful exercise for your self-acceptance journey. Take time to reflect on your positive qualities, achievements, and strengths. This list serves as a tangible reminder of your capabilities and unique qualities. Whenever self-doubt creeps in, refer to this list as a source of encouragement.

Example : Include specific instances where you demonstrated resilience, kindness, or skill as you would do in a narrative essay . It could range from completing a challenging project at work to supporting a friend during a difficult time.

Tip : Update your self-admiration list regularly. As you accomplish new goals or face challenges, add them to the list. This ongoing practice will reinforce a positive self-perception.

Embrace Individuality

Embracing your individuality is key to building self-respect. Recognize that everyone is unique, with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Instead of comparing yourself to others, celebrate what makes you distinct. Accepting and appreciating your individuality fosters a sense of self-love and confidence.

Example : If you have a passion or hobby that sets you apart, embrace it wholeheartedly. Whether it's a quirky interest or a particular skill, being authentic to yourself is empowering.

Tip : Surround yourself with supportive people, or even seek out a body acceptance movement that appreciates and encourages your individuality. This positive reinforcement can significantly contribute to building and maintaining self-love.

Chronicle Your Achievements

Keeping a record of your achievements, both big and small, is a proactive way to reinforce a positive self-image. By acknowledging your successes, you build a foundation of self-assurance that can help you tackle future challenges.

Example : If you achieved a personal or professional goal, take note of the steps you took to get there and the skills you utilized. This detailed account can serve as a motivational tool in times of self-doubt.

Tip : Regularly review your achievement journal to remind yourself of your capabilities. This reflection can be especially beneficial during challenging times.

Release Toxic Connections

Toxic relationships can have a detrimental impact on self-esteem. It's essential to identify and release connections that drain your energy and undermine your sense of self-worth. In the journey of how to build self esteem, creating a supportive network of positive individuals contributes to an environment that is conducive to the development and sustenance of a healthy sense of self-worth.

Example : If you have a friend or acquaintance who constantly criticizes or belittles you, consider reassessing the dynamics of that relationship. Create distance from those who do not contribute positively to your well-being.

Tip : Cultivate connections with individuals who uplift and inspire you. Positive relationships can significantly contribute to your overall sense of self-worth and confidence.

Foster Mind-Body Connection through Body Awareness

Building self-love involves not only nurturing your mental well-being but also fostering a strong connection with your body. Engage in self esteem boosters that promote body awareness, such as mindfulness exercises, yoga, or regular physical activity. Developing an understanding and appreciation for your body can positively influence your self-image and overall confidence.

Example : Practice mindfulness by paying attention to how your body feels in different situations. Notice physical sensations without judgment, fostering a deeper connection between your mind and body.

Tip : Incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine, whether through meditation or simply taking a few moments to focus on your breath. This practice can enhance your overall sense of well-being and self-awareness.

Grant Yourself Forgiveness for Past Thoughts and Actions

Self-forgiveness is a crucial aspect of loving your body, and it extends to various aspects of life, including navigating the challenges of school. Acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes and experiences moments of self-doubt, especially when figuring out how to be confident in school . Holding onto guilt or regret can hinder your self-love and academic performance. Instead, practice self-compassion and forgive yourself for past thoughts and actions, recognizing that personal growth often involves learning from past mistakes and moving forward.

Example : If you made a decision that you now regret, reflect on the lessons learned from that experience. Use it as an opportunity for growth rather than dwelling on self-blame.

Tip : Create a ritual of self-forgiveness, whether through journaling or a symbolic gesture. This process can help you release negative emotions and reinforce a positive self-narrative.

Expand Horizons

Broadening your horizons is an empowering way to build self-respect. Step outside your comfort zone and explore new interests, hobbies, or even career opportunities. And, speaking of lightening your load, why not pay for essay online ? Our experts can tackle your academic challenges while you conquer the world. Embracing challenges and unfamiliar experiences not only enhances your skills but also reinforces a belief in your ability to adapt and thrive.

Example : Enroll in a class, join a club, or travel to a new destination. Embracing new challenges can provide a sense of accomplishment and broaden your perspective.

Tip : Set small, achievable goals related to your interests or aspirations. Each accomplishment, no matter how minor, contributes to your sense of capability and self-worth.

Engage with Your Body with Purpose

Physical activity isn't just about staying fit; it's a powerful tool for building self-worth. Engage in activities that allow you to connect with your body in a positive and purposeful way. This could be through regular exercise, dance, or any activity that brings you joy and a sense of accomplishment.

Example : Choose a form of exercise that you genuinely enjoy, whether it's hiking, swimming, or dancing. The goal is to engage with your body in a way that feels fulfilling and empowering.

Tip : Focus on the positive aspects of physical activity, such as increased energy, improved mood, and enhanced overall well-being. Celebrate the progress you make, both in terms of physical fitness and the positive impact on your self-worth.

Transform Negative Inner Dialogue into Affirming Self-Talk

One powerful strategy for building self-worth is to actively work on transforming negative inner dialogue into affirming self-talk. The way you speak to yourself internally greatly influences your self-perception. Challenge and reframe negative thoughts, replacing them with positive and encouraging self esteem quotes.

Example : Instead of saying, 'I can't do this; I always mess up,' rephrase it to, 'I am capable of facing challenges, and each experience is an opportunity for growth.'

Tip : Keep a journal to track negative thoughts and their corresponding positive reframes. This practice not only increases your awareness but also helps establish a habit of constructive self-talk.

Marvel at Your Body's Capabilities

Appreciating your body's capabilities is a fundamental aspect of building self-worth. Rather than focusing solely on physical appearance, recognize the incredible things your body can do. Whether it's the strength to carry you through a challenging workout, the flexibility to try new activities, or the resilience to overcome illness, loving your body fosters a positive and empowering self-image.

Example : If you've been working on a physical goal, celebrate the progress you've made, whether it's lifting a heavier weight, running a longer distance, or mastering a new yoga pose.

Tip : Practice gratitude for your body's abilities by acknowledging and thanking it for what it allows you to do. This mindful approach can shift the focus from perceived flaws to a profound appreciation for your body's strengths.

4 Self Esteem Quotes to Inspire

Self-regard is a powerful force that shapes our perceptions and actions. Throughout history, influential figures have shared insights that resonate with the journey of building and maintaining self-respect. Let's explore some inspirational quotes from famous personalities that can serve as guiding lights on your path to self-discovery and confidence.

1. ' You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection .' - Buddha

This timeless quote from Buddha emphasizes the importance of self-love and acceptance. It reminds us that acknowledging our worth is not only valid but crucial for personal well-being and growth. Building self-regard often begins with treating ourselves with the same kindness we extend to others.

2. ' You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you .' - Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy, a motivational speaker and author, emphasizes the inherent strength within each individual. This quote encourages the belief that irrespective of external challenges; you possess the capabilities needed to navigate life successfully. Understanding this intrinsic power contributes significantly to building self-respect.

3. ' You are the only person on earth who can use your ability. ' - Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar's quote emphasizes personal responsibility and the unique abilities each person possesses. Recognizing and utilizing your own talents fosters a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. This empowerment is foundational to building positive self-esteem.

4. ' The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique .' - Walt Disney

Walt Disney, a pioneer in creativity and imagination, celebrates the beauty of individuality. This quote encourages embracing one's uniqueness as a source of strength and distinction. Understanding and appreciating your distinct qualities contribute to a robust self-image.

Connect with Supportive Communities

Building and maintaining self-worth is often a journey that benefits from community support. Connecting with like-minded individuals and accessing valuable resources can provide additional guidance, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. Here are some body acceptance movement organizations, online communities, and resources that will help you on your self-acceptance journey.

1. National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)

The National Eating Disorders Association is a non-profit organization that provides resources and support for individuals struggling with body image and eating disorders. NEDA offers helplines, online forums, and educational materials to promote body acceptance and healthy self-image.

Website: National Eating Disorders Association

2. Confidence Code for Girls by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

The Confidence Code for Girls is a book written by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. Aimed at young girls, it encourages building confidence and self-respect. The authors explore the science behind confidence and offer practical advice on developing a positive self-image.

Book: Confidence Code for Girls

3. Dove's Self-Esteem Project

Dove, a global beauty and personal care brand, runs the Self-Esteem Project, which aims to promote body confidence and self-image in young people. The body positivity movement offers resources for parents, educators, and mentors to support conversations around body image.

Website: Dove's Self-Esteem Project

4. Online Therapy Platforms

Platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace provide convenient access to licensed therapists who can offer guidance on self-respect and body acceptance. Virtual therapy sessions can be a valuable resource for individuals seeking personalized support in a confidential setting.

Website: BetterHelp

Final Outlook

In the pursuit of building self confidence, remember that it is a dynamic journey shaped by self-discovery, resilience, and positive connections. Recognize your uniqueness, celebrate your achievements, and foster a compassionate relationship with yourself. With each intentional step, you pave the way for a more confident, empowered, and resilient version of you!

Ready to Transform Self-Doubt into the Stuff of Legends?

Order your motivational essay now, and let's kick negativity to the curb!

Related Articles

Ready to Get Started?

Please login to your account.

• Employee Login
• Employee Registration
• Spouse/Partner Login
• Spouse/Partner Registration

Search other articles

Body image: a better perspective, many people think of body image as a women’s issue or a young person’s issue. in actuality, we all  have a perceived body image that affects so many aspects of our lives — including the opportunities we seek. .

What exactly is body image, and how can we cultivate a better, more healthy image so that we get the most out of life? To learn more, we talked to Dr. Kristine Luce , p sychologist and clinical associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. 

Your body image is defined by your personal perception. 

Dr. Luce defines body image as how a person thinks of, feels about and perceives their own body, and how a person imagines others perceive their body.

“Body image is an aspect of identity. Most people tend to self-identify by segmenting their lives into different roles. For example, a person may self-identify according to their profession, relationships, hobbies, etc. Body image is one aspect of a person’s complete identity, and within it a person can hold many perceptions, even contradicting perceptions.”

Although body image is commonly understood as having to do with weight and shape, the term actually encompasses all aspects of a person’s perceived physical appearance  — including age, facial attributes and gender. 

Body image exists on a continuum.

Dr. Luce views body image along a continuum, with “positive body image” on one end, “negative body image” on the other and the middle composed of varying aspects of both. 

Dr. Luce describes a positive body image as a healthy self-image, in which a person has self-compassion and appreciation for their body. They recognize the amazing functions of their body and don’t let how they feel about their appearance limit how they live their life. On the other end of the spectrum, a person with a negative body image tends to be strongly self-critical and less attuned to the beneficial capabilities and functions of their bodies. 

Most people, however, do not fall on one extreme or the other. The vast majority of people have varying degrees of appreciation and criticism for their bodies. Terms like “positive” and “negative” tend to be inadequate for fully capturing a person’s felt experience, which is generally more nuanced than binary. For example, when speaking about body image, a person may “fragment” and speak about parts of their bodies they like, and parts that they don’t like. Others might describe feeling positive about their bodies overall, but still want to change certain physical aspects.

A person’s body image is dynamic and ever changing throughout the lifespan. People tend to move along a continuum of how they perceive themselves at various stages of life, such as when they age or gain or lose weight.

Many factors contribute to a person’s body image.

Dr. Luce explains that we are constantly inundated with body image messages from many different sources, including history, economics, religion, family of origin and the media, which is the most prevalent.

Luce describes a series of studies conducted in Fiji before western TV was brought to the island. At that time there were no known cases of eating disorders in Fiji. The studies revealed that the first cases of eating and body image disorders emerged after western TV was brought to their culture, indicating that media presence was at least a contributing factor in how people perceived their bodies. 

“Culture has long influenced body image by defining and dictating what is attractive. The media is a strong force that can shape and influence culture, for better or for worse.” 

Other societal factors, including economic history and religion, can also contribute to one’s body image. Luce mentions that a higher body weight used to be a sign of fertility and wealth when resources were more scarce, but as resources have become more accessible, thinness or fitness is seen as a symbol of wealth because it indicates more time for self-care. For some religious groups, a thinner appearance could indicate a greater ability for fasting, which is associated with the virtue of self-control and used as a measure of spiritual virtue. 

Finally, an individual’s personal history and upbringing can influence the way they perceive themselves and their bodies. For example, if someone is raised in a household or social environment in which a person’s value is very closely tied to their physical appearance, a person may begin to perceive their bodies as a measure of their self-worth. 

With the constant onslaught of information we are receiving about how we think we should look, Dr. Luce assures us it is understandable if we feel pressure to look a certain way. 

Body image can impact the choices we make in our lives.

Put simply, overconcern about appearance can limit what opportunities a person seeks. Dr. Luce gives several examples of this phenomenon, termed “self-handicapping” in social psychology. Self-handicapping is a cognitive strategy in which people avoid an opportunity to protect their self-esteem against the possibility of failure. For example, if a person makes the assumption that they will be discriminated against because of their appearance, they may not go for a promotion. 

“Research on this subject shows that a strong enough limiting self-belief can restrict access and experiences throughout the lifespan. This is based on an assumption that may or may not be true.”

Other common examples of self-handicapping due to body image include postponing dating until reaching a particular appearance or avoiding visiting the doctor until reaching a desired weight. According to Luce, these are paradoxical approaches that rarely work, and often bring us further from our desired outcomes. 

“When you think about it, most people want to look a certain way for more access in life, whether it be jobs, partners, health or something else. By avoiding promotions, dating and doctor visits due to body image concerns, our access to our desired outcomes becomes more and more limited. On the other hand, people who feel positively in their bodies are more likely to seek out opportunities in all of these areas.”  

Negative body image persists throughout different demographic groups.

According to Luce, there used to be evidence that negative body image occurred more for women than for men, and more for white women than for other ethnic groups — but the gap has narrowed over time.

“In the last 20 to 30 years, there has been a proliferation of body image marketing to every ethnic group and gender. Now you can find body image advertising that targets everybody, thus increasing body image concerns and eating disorders across all types of people. I call it, ‘equal opportunity in the direction we were not hoping for.’”

Research conducted in the 1980s showed it was rare for people to feel positive in their bodies, which is a feeling that still persists, according to a 2018 poll .

There are many strategies for cultivating a more positive body image.

Dr. Luce encourages her patients to act according to their values rather than their negative self-beliefs. An example of this would be encouraging someone to go to the beach, if that is what they enjoy, even though they might also feel uncomfortable in a bathing suit. This is called a “cognitive dissonance intervention,” based on the theory that increasing the tension (or dissonance) between a person’s thoughts and actions will eventually create a new belief. Dissonance interventions are really about being aware of one’s values, living in alignment with them and not letting one’s beliefs limit opportunities in life. 

“Sometimes the discomfort gets better at first, and sometimes it takes a while. But feeling the warmth of the sun or the coolness of the water can make the volume of those negative thoughts turn down, or at least fade them into the background.”

Another intervention, applied on a more macro scale, is counter-attitudinal marketing, which features people of various body sizes, shapes and ethnicities in advertisements.

“I used to have a lot of optimism around counter-advertising and counter-marketing as a strategy for improving body image across culture. I still believe it can work for people who are open to it.” 

However, counter-attitudinal ads represent a very small percentage of mass media and social media images. The vast majority of media displays are not representative of the average body type: many are altered by image editing applications like Photoshop and filters, and some even represent an unhealthy body image. By understanding this fact, and being selective of our media exposure, we can begin to combat some of the negative effects of body image marketing.  Luce acknowledges this is not an easy feat:

“Negative body image beliefs are deeply entrenched for some people and changing these thoughts, for some, can be very challenging.” 

Luce goes on to describe how undoing a belief can be harder than building a new one, especially when we are exposed to so many media images and messages that are constantly reinforcing certain ideas. 

  Dr. Luce also encourages us to think about the way we speak about bodies and how this might affect body image for ourselves and our communities. 

“We can all refuse to engage in conversations about other people’s bodies. By choosing to not engage in appearance-based conversations, we can influence the world by modeling our values.”

A similar strategy is reconsidering our appearance-based decisions as a message to the world. Dr. Luce admits that she doesn’t color her hair because she doesn’t want to give into the pressures around ageism. However, she acknowledges this type of action can be challenging because ageism and appearance-based discrimination exists in many fields. 

“I am a psychologist in academia, so looking ‘old and wise’ is still valued. I recognize there are many people who feel they have to look a certain way to keep their jobs.”

Although we may not all be able to take such a strong action, everybody can do something to show the perception of feeling comfortable in the body they have. By choosing an alternative action that goes against societal pressures around body image, we can make changes that influence ourselves and the world around us.

Dr. Luce closes with a note of encouragement. “Body image is not static. Throughout life we move along a continuum of how we perceive ourselves. Regardless of how we feel about it at any given moment, we can have a full and meaningful life in the bodies we have.”

Mia Primeau July 2020

Select resources: Stanford Health Image Body Program The Body Positive Stanford Research Project Stanford Children’s Health: Boost Your Teen Daughter’s Body Image National Eating Disorders: The Body Project

Featured Articles

Essays About Body Image: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

Essays about body image tackle delicate subjects like insecurities and mental illnesses; to effectively discuss it with tact, see our top essay examples.

The term “body image” refers to how you see and feel about your appearance. Although many support body positivity today and push for body acceptance, studies still show that 86% of women suffer from negative body image and want to lose weight . The inability to accept oneself results in low self-esteem, stress, and depression. Picking body image as your essay topic lets you join the discussion regarding this always-timely issue. Consider the examples listed below as inspiration for your essay:

1. Long Essay on Body Image by Prasanna

2. gender and body image essay by anonymous on ivypanda.com, 3. the negative body image presented by the media by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 4. social media and body image by anonymous on edubirdie.com, 5. negative body images essay by writer valeria, 1. aspects of body image, 2. body image: the good and the bad, 3. factors affecting teenager body image, 4. beauty pageants: pros and cons, 5. body image and mental health, 6. victoria’s secret models and body image, 7. men’s body image, 8. what is body shaming, 9. knowing what’s real: curating my body image, 10. my journey to self-love.

“People have forgotten the concept of inner beauty. A person should always think of themselves to be perfect in front of the mirror.”

Prasanna explains what body image means, including its consequences in the form of disorders. She delves into how a person’s perception of their physical appearance affects their lives and how it’s now a big problem in today’s society. The author believes cultivating a supportive environment dramatically improves one’s body image. In the end, she reminds the readers how God made everyone unique in their own right and to start having a positive attitude towards their bodies.

You might also be interested in these articles and essays about appearance .

“Online blogs, television, and films all provide examples of perfect female and male bodies. When real people compare themselves to these ideals, they experience dissatisfaction with their body that results in body image issues.”

The essay scrutinizes ideals that trigger someone’s body issues, often leading to physical and mental problems. For example, today’s ideal female body is fit, with low body fat and a slim waist. Meanwhile, men should be muscular with sharp facial features. Because these are the only acceptable “right” bodies, many go through unhealthy diets, take dubious pills, and engage in strenuous exercises. The writer supports the body positivity movement that demands diversity from mass media.

See how to write an essay about diversity if you want to write about it instead.

“The media also provide unrealistic body image that no human can meet without causing harm to themselves.”

Harmful diets, dangerous treatments, expensive surgeries – people do these and many more to achieve and maintain the perfect body presented in mass media. This “false advertising” even results in eating disorders and food-related diseases. The essay adds research findings and relevant cases to support the author’s distaste for mass media’s impact on individuals’ perceptions of themselves.

“… social networking can cause an individual to set a high expectation on themselves. The media encompasses a set thought of what is attractive and what is not attractive.”

While social media is a great platform to promote healthy living, the author brings up how it also presents unrealistic body standards. Although most are thanks to digital editing, photos depicting perfect body images of celebrities, models, and influencers on social media still affect individuals’ concept of how they should look. By constantly seeing these “perfect” photos online, people turn to doctoring their pictures and deluding themselves into thinking they look like something they aren’t. Sometimes, people even go under the knife to replicate their altered photos.

“Seeing overly skinny models in the media does not enhance women’s self-esteem, self-worth or self-image.”

In this essay, Valeria shares her review of the book Understanding Negative Body Image by Barbara Moe which focuses on the culture’s obsession with weight, shape, and body image. The writer includes her favorite part of the book, where flat chests are fashionable in Ms. America. She compares it to today, where bigger breasts and thinner bodies are preferred. Valeria believes the media needs to show more diverse and realistic body shapes to reduce negative body image.

Are you looking for a great grammar checker? Read our ProWritingAid review to know why it’s one of our recommended picks.

10 Helpful Writing Prompts On Essays About Body Image

Are the samples above effective in giving you inspiration for your essay? If you’re still thinking of what to write about, you can use the following prompts:

Identify and explain the four main aspects of body image: perceptual, affective, cognitive, and behavioral. Provide examples to make it easier for the readers to understand how they differ and contribute to a person’s overall body image. Add surveys or research findings to support your statements and increase your essay’s credibility.

You don’t create your body image with your eyes alone. Your feelings and thoughts about your body are also part of the equation. These are all the results of your experiences, whether they are positive or negative. For this prompt, share any encounters that affected how you look at your body. 

Youngsters in their puberty are the most affected by today’s body image pressures. First, discuss factors that significantly impact how teenagers value themselves. Then, share steps to help young people overcome these issues. You can also write down the causes and warning signs of a negative body image.

Write your opinion about the “beauty” standards in beauty pageants and whether you favor them or not. Talk about its benefits and drawbacks to children, adult participants, and anyone who consumes such media. To demonstrate the severity of these standards, present cases where a contestant’s appearance or body became the matter in question.

The pressures of attaining a perfect body take their toll on an individual’s quality of life. These taxing pressures, such as eating disorders, anxiety, and mood swings, spill over the person’s relations and even hinder everyday living. Therefore, incorporate the importance of maintaining a positive body image to achieve healthy psychological and physical well-being.

Victoria’s Secret, a brand known for its skinny models, hired its first-ever plus-size model in 2019 . Find out why the brand made this significant change and how its customers received it. Include your opinion about the brand’s decision. Add if you believe the company did what it did to start a more diverse line of clothing or because it succumbed to people’s demand of wanting to see more realistic bodies in media.

Although most body image essays are about women, men also cope with self-acceptance. Discuss common problems men have to deal with daily regarding their appearance. Integrate how men are described in books and movies and probe how these visuals can affect a man’s ego. To make your essay more compelling, you can also delve into why there are more rigid rules on beauty standards imposed on women versus men.

Explore what encompasses body shaming and add why people do it. Relay to your readers how it affects people with a history of depression, low self-esteem, trauma, and other mental illnesses. Through this prompt, your essay will help raise awareness against body shaming. You might also be interested in these articles about eating disorders .

One excellent way to improve body image is to tailor what you see, especially on social media. Then, remind yourself that these photos are altered and unnatural. For this essay, list steps that can help protect one’s self-image away from the fake “perfect” bodies flooding mass media. For example, add joining groups highlighting edits in photoshop pictures, etc.

Everyone has something they want to change regarding their appearance. Through this essay, share what you did to overcome the struggles of accepting yourself as you are. You can also recommend books that helped change your perspective.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

If you still need help, our guide to grammar and punctuation explains more.

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

View all posts

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Being Yourself — Self-Esteem: Understanding Its Meaning, Factors, and Influences

Self-esteem: Understanding Its Meaning, Factors, and Influences

• Categories: Being Yourself Personality Self Assessment

About this sample

Words: 1580 |

Published: Mar 3, 2020

Words: 1580 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, where does our self-esteem come from, what factors influence our self-esteem, low self-esteem vs high self-esteem, how can we overcome low self-esteem.

• Self-awareness,
• Self-acceptance,
• Assertiveness,
• Proactiveness,
• Responsibility,

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

• Expert in: Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 1435 words

3 pages / 1501 words

2 pages / 1064 words

2 pages / 1053 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Being Yourself

Dove. 'Dove Real Beauty Sketches.' YouTube, uploaded by Dove US, 14 April 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=litXW91UauE.Neff, Kristin D. and Elizabeth P. Shoda. 'Self-Compassion: An Alternative Conceptualization of a Healthy [...]

Loving myself is important to my life because, through self-love, I learn who I am. Loving myself has always been a key part of my life. Even if at some point in my life I didn’t love myself. Being able to love myself had its [...]

Essay about self-image delves into the intricate relationship between how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us. Our self-image plays a pivotal role in shaping our confidence, choices, and interactions with the world. [...]

I prefer to be true to myself, even at the endangerment of finding the ridicule of others, rather than to be false and finding my own detestation. Why should I worry about what others think of me? I don’t give a shit about how [...]

“I wish I may, I wish I might, Wish up on this star tonight.” “twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are, like a diamond in the sky, twinkle twinkle little star.” As children we are taught these nursery rhymes, at [...]

In the past sixteen years I have faced various challenges that have molded my personality to as it is today. I went through a very tough stage in my social life when I was in grade seven and eight at the age of twelve and [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Bipolar Disorder
• Therapy Center
• When To See a Therapist
• Types of Therapy
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Couples Therapy
• Best Family Therapy
• Managing Stress
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Understanding Emotions
• Self-Improvement
• Healthy Relationships
• Student Resources
• Personality Types
• Verywell Mind Insights
• 2023 Verywell Mind 25
• Mental Health in the Classroom
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board
• Crisis Support

What Is Self-Esteem?

Your Sense of Your Personal Worth or Value

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin

Theories of Self-Esteem

Healthy self-esteem, low self-esteem, excessive self-esteem.

• How to Improve

Self-esteem is your subjective sense of overall personal worth or value. Similar to self-respect, it describes your level of confidence in your abilities and attributes.

Having healthy self-esteem can influence your motivation, your mental well-being, and your overall quality of life. However, having self-esteem that is either too high or too low can be problematic. Better understanding what your unique level of self-esteem is can help you strike a balance that is just right for you.

Key elements of self-esteem include:

• Self-confidence
• Feelings of security
• Sense of belonging
• Feeling of competence

Other terms often used interchangeably with self-esteem include self-worth, self-regard, and self-respect.

Self-esteem tends to be lowest in childhood and increases during adolescence, as well as adulthood, eventually reaching a fairly stable and enduring level. This makes self-esteem similar to the stability of personality traits over time.

Why Self-Esteem Is Important

Self-esteem impacts your decision-making process, your relationships, your emotional health, and your overall well-being. It also influences motivation , as people with a healthy, positive view of themselves understand their potential and may feel inspired to take on new challenges.

Four key characteristics of healthy self-esteem are:

• A firm understanding of one's skills
• The ability to maintain healthy relationships with others as a result of having a healthy relationship with oneself
• Realistic and appropriate personal expectations
• An understanding of one's needs and the ability to express those needs

People with low self-esteem tend to feel less sure of their abilities and may doubt their decision-making process. They may not feel motivated to try novel things because they don’t believe they can reach their goals. Those with low self-esteem may have issues with relationships and expressing their needs. They may also experience low levels of confidence and feel unlovable and unworthy.

People with overly high self-esteem may overestimate their skills and may feel entitled to succeed, even without the abilities to back up their belief in themselves. They may struggle with relationship issues and block themselves from self-improvement because they are so fixated on seeing themselves as perfect .

Click Play to Learn More About Self-Esteem

This video has been medically reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS .

Many theorists have written about the dynamics involved in the development of self-esteem. The concept of self-esteem plays an important role in psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs , which depicts esteem as one of the basic human motivations.

Maslow suggested that individuals need both appreciation from other people and inner self-respect to build esteem. Both of these needs must be fulfilled in order for an individual to grow as a person and reach self-actualization .

It is important to note that self-esteem is a concept distinct from self-efficacy , which involves how well you believe you'll handle future actions, performance, or abilities.

Factors That Affect Self-Esteem

There are many factors that can influence self-esteem. Your self-esteem may be impacted by:

• Physical abilities
• Socioeconomic status
• Thought patterns

Racism and discrimination have also been shown to have negative effects on self-esteem. Additionally, genetic factors that help shape a person's personality can play a role, but life experiences are thought to be the most important factor.

It is often our experiences that form the basis for overall self-esteem. For example, low self-esteem might be caused by overly critical or negative assessments from family and friends. Those who experience what Carl Rogers referred to as unconditional positive regard will be more likely to have healthy self-esteem.

There are some simple ways to tell if you have healthy self-esteem. You probably have healthy self-esteem if you:

• Avoid dwelling on past negative experiences
• Believe you are equal to everyone else, no better and no worse
• Express your needs
• Feel confident
• Have a positive outlook on life
• Say no when you want to
• See your overall strengths and weaknesses and accept them

Having healthy self-esteem can help motivate you to reach your goals, because you are able to navigate life knowing that you are capable of accomplishing what you set your mind to. Additionally, when you have healthy self-esteem, you are able to set appropriate boundaries in relationships and maintain a healthy relationship with yourself and others.

Low self-esteem may manifest in a variety of ways. If you have low self-esteem:

• You may believe that others are better than you.
• You may find expressing your needs difficult.
• You may focus on your weaknesses.
• You may frequently experience fear, self-doubt, and worry.
• You may have a negative outlook on life and feel a lack of control.
• You may have an intense fear of failure.
• You may have trouble accepting positive feedback.
• You may have trouble saying no and setting boundaries.
• You may put other people's needs before your own.
• You may struggle with confidence .

Low self-esteem has the potential to lead to a variety of mental health disorders, including anxiety disorders and depressive disorders. You may also find it difficult to pursue your goals and maintain healthy relationships. Having low self-esteem can seriously impact your quality of life and increases your risk for experiencing suicidal thoughts.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  at  988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see our  National Helpline Database .

Overly high self-esteem is often mislabeled as narcissism , however there are some distinct traits that differentiate these terms. Individuals with narcissistic traits may appear to have high self-esteem, but their self-esteem may be high or low and is unstable, constantly shifting depending on the given situation. Those with excessive self-esteem:

• May be preoccupied with being perfect
• May focus on always being right
• May believe they cannot fail
• May believe they are more skilled or better than others
• May express grandiose ideas
• May grossly overestimate their skills and abilities

When self-esteem is too high, it can result in relationship problems, difficulty with social situations, and an inability to accept criticism.

How to Improve Self-Esteem

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to address problems with your perceptions of yourself and faith in your abilities. How do you build self-esteem? Some actions that you can take to help improve your self-esteem include:

• Become more aware of negative thoughts . Learn to identify the distorted thoughts that are impacting your self-worth.
• Challenge negative thinking patterns . When you find yourself engaging in negative thinking, try countering those thoughts with more realistic and/or positive ones. 
• Use positive self-talk . Practice reciting positive affirmations to yourself.
• Practice self-compassion . Practice forgiving yourself for past mistakes and move forward by accepting all parts of yourself.

Low self-esteem can contribute to or be a symptom of mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression . Consider speaking with a doctor or therapist about available treatment options, which may include psychotherapy (in-person or online), medications, or a combination of both.

Get Help Now

We've tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Though some of the causes of low self-esteem can’t be changed, such as genetic factors, early childhood experiences, and personality traits, there are steps you can take to feel more secure and valued. Remember that no one person is less worthy than the next. Keeping this in mind may help you maintain a healthy sense of self-esteem.

Get Advice From The Verywell Mind Podcast

Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares strategies that can help you learn to truly believe in yourself, featuring IT Cosmetics founder Jamie Kern Lima.

Follow Now : Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts

Trzesniewski KH, Donnellan MB, Robins RW. Stability of self-esteem across the life span .  J Pers Soc Psychol . 2003;84(1):205-220.

von Soest T, Wagner J, Hansen T, Gerstorf D. Self-esteem across the second half of life: The role of socioeconomic status, physical health, social relationships, and personality factors .  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology . 2018;114(6):945-958. doi:10.1037/pspp0000123

Johnson AJ. Examining associations between racism, internalized shame, and self-esteem among African Americans . Cogent Psychology . 2020;7(1):1757857. doi:10.1080/23311908.2020.1757857

Gabriel AS, Erickson RJ, Diefendorff JM, Krantz D. When does feeling in control benefit well-being? The boundary conditions of identity commitment and self-esteem.   Journal of Vocational Behavior . 2020;119:103415. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103415

Nguyen DT, Wright EP, Dedding C, Pham TT, Bunders J. Low self-esteem and its association with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in Vietnamese secondary school students: A cross-sectional study .  Front Psychiatry . 2019;10:698. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00698

Brummelman E, Thomaes S, Sedikides C. Separating narcissism from self-esteem.   Curr Dir Psychol Sci . 2016;25(1):8-13. doi:10.1177/0963721415619737

Cascio CN, O’Donnell MB, Tinney FJ, Lieberman MD, Taylor SE, Stretcher VJ, et. al. Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation . Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience . 2016;11(4):621-629. doi:10.1093/scan/nsv136

Maslow AH. Motivation and Personality . 3rd ed. New York: Harper & Row; 1987.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• Glob Ment Health (Camb)

Body image as a global mental health concern

Rachel f. rodgers.

1 APPEAR, Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

2 Department of Psychiatric Emergency & Acute Care, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHRU Montpellier, Montpellier, France

Katherine Laveway

Priscila campos.

3 NICTA, Body Image and Eating Disorders Research Group, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil

Pedro Henrique Berbert de Carvalho

4 AMBULIM, Eating Disorders Program, Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Peer Review Summary

Body image concerns related to weight or other dimensions of appearance are now prevalent on a global scale. This paper reviews the theoretical frameworks that account for the global similarities and regional differences in rates and presentation of body image concerns, as well as reviewing the extant data. Given the harmful consequences of body image concerns in terms of mental and physical health, their global burden is high. Interventions to mitigate these concerns at the individual and systemic level are warranted.

Impact statement

Body image concerns include preoccupation and dissatisfaction with the body’s appearance including its shape and weight as well as other characteristics. Body image concerns are present across the globe due to strong pressures to pursue appearance ideals. Although these concerns may vary with cultural context, their prevalence and association with poor mental and physical health are global. Given these high rates and the negative effects of body image concerns, it is important to increase our efforts to prevent and decrease them across the globe.

Introduction

Body image is a multidimensional construct encompassing the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of an individual related to their own appearance (Cash, 2004 ). Body image is often conceptualized as including both an evaluative aspect (satisfaction or concern with appearance) and an evaluation of the centrality of body image to an individual’s identity (Jarry et al., 2019 ). Historically, much of the empirical research has focused on body image from a deficit lens, in particular as a risk factor for poor mental health and psychopathology including eating disorders and other mental health concerns. In addition, this work has been helpful in highlighting body image concerns as a mental health concern in its own right. Nevertheless, more recently increasing attention has been focused on body image through a positive psychology lens (Tylka and Wood-Barcalow, 2015 ) and the ways in which positive body image can be related to well-being. As part of this focus on positive body image, more attention has been paid to nonappearance dimensions of body image such as functionality and embodiment (Piran, 2019 ; Alleva and Tylka, 2021 ).

Much of the early literature in the area of body image, up until the new millennium, stemmed from English-speaking high-income countries. In recent years, this literature has been expanded to include work from a range of countries and geographic regions. The aim of this review is to offer a critical synthesis of the literature that exists on body image at a global level. First, prevailing theoretical frameworks that have guided this work will be reviewed. Second, the existing data regarding body image at a global level will be summarized. Finally, implications and future directions will be offered.

Theoretical overview

Several theories have been developed to usefully guide investigations into body image. These frameworks place important emphasis on the role of elements at different levels, ranging from theories focusing on macro-level elements such as social discourse and institution, and those centered on the role of individual-level factors. Here, dominant theories are presented in order of narrowing lens, from the macro- to individual level.

Body capital

The acceleration of highly visual culture, facilitated by digital technologies in recent years, has exacerbated the extent to which the body’s appearance is a central source of capital for individuals worldwide (Bourdieu, 2018 ). Body capital consists of two distinct dimensions: (1) the amount of body capital held by an individual and (2) the extent to which individuals are encouraged to invest in their body as a source of capital. Both of these dimensions are related to the matrices of power and privilege that underpin the majority of contemporary societies in which certain bodies hold more social power than others. Thus, a body that is read as holding certain identities and that is closer to social beauty standards will hold more body capital. Conversely, individuals whose identities afford them lower power and privilege, such as Black and Indigenous People of Color, and those who live in larger bodies, are more strongly encouraged to invest in their appearance as a source of capital. This perspective is relevant when considering who within a certain group is thus more likely to experience their body as related to their experiences of oppression, while concurrently experiencing it as a modifiable source of potential capital (Edmonds, 2007 ; Hunter, 2011 ).

Sociocultural theories

Sociocultural theories highlight how messages from broad social discourses, relayed by proximal sociocultural agents (such as the media or the interpersonal environment), influence individuals’ beliefs regarding appearance and thereby their body image. Thus, for example, social discourses regarding the moral value of pursuing an appearance that conforms to external standards, including in terms of weight, and that encourages individuals to discipline and self-monitor their bodies have been useful (Thompson et al., 1999 ; Fitzsimmons-Craft, 2011 ). In addition, these theories have made important contributions in highlighting the increasing demands placed on individuals in terms of appearance standards, the unrealistic nature of beauty ideals, as well as their progressive globalization (Widdows, 2018 ). While it is true that appearance ideals vary across cultures, as well as social identities including gender and sexual orientation, it is also the case that a globalized ideal that is slender, toned yet curvy for women and muscular and lean for men, and golden in skin tone is emerging (Widdows, 2018 ). These theories also highlight how these socially constructed appearance standards serve political and economic goals as their inherent unattainability generates large financial profits as individuals strive to pursue them, while their perpetuation of oppressive social hierarchies contributes to maintaining the existing systems of power and privilege (Hesse-Biber et al., 2006 ; Rodgers, 2022 as cited in Aimé, 2022 ). Empirical work grounded in these theories has been useful in identifying mechanisms through which sociocultural discourses and appearance ideals are internalized by individuals, and the role of appearance comparison in the development and maintenance of body image concerns (Shroff and Thompson, 2006 ; Rodgers et al., 2011 ; Schaefer et al., 2019 ).

Related to the idea of body capital, Westernization, urbanization, and rapid economic growth have been posited to be linked to increased body image concerns through intensifying media and advertising pressures, as well as competition for resources and social mobility (Becker, 2004 ; McLaren and Kuh, 2004 ; Gorrell et al., 2019 ). From this perspective, countries that are most affluent, as well as those that are undergoing the most rapid cultural and economic transitions, are likely to be those where the highest rates of body image concerns are found.

Critical feminist theories

Critical feminist theories have been useful in identifying how gendered processes that serve economic and political goals of gender majorities, including the objectification of women and gender minorities, are related to body image (Peterson et al., 2008 ; Roberts et al., 2018 ). These theories emphasize how the gendered nature of body ideals and the social value attributed to appearance serve to further protect existing gender hierarchies. Thus, for example, socializing women to be invested in achieving an unrealistically slender and highly groomed appearance diverts energies and resources away from other (political and social) activities and continues to perpetuate systems in which women’s social worth is indexed to their appearance (Widdows, 2018 ; Piran, 2019 ). In addition, these theories have highlighted how the objectification of women in society, in particular through media images, leads to women internalizing the need to self-monitor one’s body, in the form of self-surveillance and self-objectification, and how these factors are also associated with poor body image (Fitzsimmons-Craft, 2011 ).

Minority stress theories

A third important group of theories has highlighted how individuals who hold minoritized identities may experience and fear appearance-based discrimination (Brewster et al., 2017 ; Veldhuis et al., 2017 ; Brewster et al., 2019 ). These experiences and the associated anxiety lead to negative affect, a recognized risk factor for body image concerns, as well as heightened preoccupation with appearance. In addition, individuals may engage in efforts to avoid discrimination and the associated anxiety by attempting to modify their appearance through behaviors that may be harmful in the long term, as well as avoiding situations in ways that may be impairing over time.

A comprehensive integrative model of minority stress and sociocultural theory was useful to better understand how minority stressors (heterosexist discrimination, sexual orientation concealment, and internalized homophobia) were related to sociocultural influences (sociocultural pressures, thin ideal, and muscular-ideal internalization) and body image concerns and related body change behaviors (Convertino et al., 2021 ).

Empirical evidence across countries

High-income english-speaking countries.

The large majority of the available research has stemmed from high-income English-speaking countries such as the USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia (Holmqvist and Frisén, 2010 ). In such cultural contexts, strong adherence to unrealistically slender and muscular ideals is overall found, with little variation across high socioeconomic status sites (Swami et al., 2010 ). In such contexts, body image concerns are highly prevalent and tend to be greatest among individuals with minoritized identities including women, sexual and gender minorities, individuals living in larger bodies, and those from minoritized racial and ethnic backgrounds (Frederick et al., 2022 ). Appearance ideals that are gendered, heteronormative, ableist, ageist, and Eurocentric contribute to centering concerns around weight, muscularity, youth, fairness, and related characteristics across groups.

Research has suggested that levels of body image concerns in high-income English-speaking countries, particularly in the USA, are among the highest globally, with the exception of pockets of very affluent and Westernized areas, such as within Asia (Holmqvist and Frisén, 2010 ). It is also within such contexts that research focusing on positive body image has received the greatest attention (Halliwell, 2015 ), as well as research aiming to refine explanatory models of body image concerns that account for interindividual variations (Pachankis et al., 2020 ).

In the USA and in other English-speaking high-income countries, negative body image has been associated with eating disorders (Drummond, 2002 ; McLean and Paxton, 2019 ), as well as depression and postpartum depression (Brausch and Gutierrez, 2009 ; Silveira et al., 2015 ), and poor psychosocial functioning (Davison and McCabe, 2006 ). Effective interventions to decrease body image concerns have been developed, in particular those that increase understandings of the socially constructed nature of appearance ideals and decrease adherence to them (Marchand et al., 2011 ; Lewis-Smith et al., 2019 ). Notably, sometimes these interventions address eating disorders as the main outcome and body image as a risk factor (Marchand et al., 2011 ). However, these interventions need to be embedded more systematically into existing networks and systems, and efforts to decrease universal risk need to be increased (Bell et al., 2016 ).

European countries

Studies in European non-English-speaking countries have overall evidenced findings that are similar to those in high-income English-speaking countries, although overall rates of body image concerns tend to be lower than in the USA (Frederick et al., 2007 ; Holmqvist and Frisén, 2010 ). Within Europe, variations exist in terms of body image, for example, individuals from Belgium and Portugal have reported lower rates of body size satisfaction as compared to Norway and Denmark (Kvalem et al., 2020 ).

Latin countries such as Portugal and Spain tend to place more emphasis on appearance, which is accompanied by higher rates of cosmetic surgery and body image concerns (Stefanile et al., 2015 ). Consistent with the theories described previously, high rates of appearance investment and anxiety in Cyprus, as compared to other European countries, were interpreted as being related to the lower economic power of the area and recent rapid urbanization and change (Koutsantoni et al., 2020 ).

Among European samples, body image has been found to be associated with mental health concerns including internalizing symptoms (Ramos et al., 2019 ), eating disorder symptoms (Rodgers et al., 2011 ), and poor psychological functioning (Corry et al., 2009 ; Træen et al., 2016 ). Given the preliminary evidence for the burden of body image concerns in Europe, continuing to develop efforts toward prevention is critical (Barbosa, 2021 ).

Latin America

Body image disturbances and physical appearance concerns are prevalent in most Latin American countries (McArthur et al., 2005 ; Silva et al., 2011 ; Forbes et al., 2012 ; Amaral and Ferreira, 2017 ; Swami et al., 2020 : Bolívar-Suárez et al., 2021 ; León-Paucar et al., 2021 ). Research points to several sociocultural factors related to body image concerns in Latin American samples, such as pressure to achieve socially prescribed body ideals and the internalization of appearance ideals (Austin and Smith, 2008 ; Mellor et al., 2008 ; Forbes et al., 2012 ; de Carvalho et al., 2017 ; de Carvalho and Ferreira, 2020 ), unique pressures to meet unrealistic standards of beauty (Forbes et al., 2012 ; Gruber et al., 2022 ), thin-ideal awareness (Moreno-Domínguez et al., 2019 ), negative appearance-related messages from family members (Rivero et al., 2022 ), acculturative stress (Quiñones et al., 2022 ), and acculturation (Marquez and Benitez, 2021 ).

It is noteworthy that poor mental health has been associated with body image concerns in Latin American countries, including low self-esteem (Amaral and Ferreira, 2017 ; Bolívar-Suárez et al., 2021 ), depressive symptoms (Amaral and Ferreira, 2017 ; Delgado-Floody et al., 2021 ; León-Paucar et al., 2021 ), poor psychological well-being (Amaral and Ferreira, 2017 ; Lemes et al., 2018 ; Matias et al., 2020 ), mental health concerns (Pinheiro et al., 2007 ; Silva et al., 2011 ), and eating disorder symptoms (Compte et al., 2015 ; Amaral and Ferreira, 2017 ; de Carvalho et al., 2017 ; de Carvalho and Ferreira, 2020 ). Although effective interventions to decrease body image concerns have been developed for Latin Americans (Castillo et al., 2019 ; Almeida et al., 2021 ; Rutsztein et al., 2021 ; Resende et al., 2022 ), there is still a critical need to position body image as a priority in public mental health policies, and again several of these programs address body image as a risk factor within eating disorder prevention. This may be particularly challenging in Latin America countries, given difficulties faced in their operationalization, financing, and adaptation to sociocultural realities (Leiva-Peña et al., 2021 ).

Asia and South-East Asia

Beauty ideals in Asia and South-East Asia have been described as centering around being small-bodied as well as a particular emphasis on facial features (Mellor et al., 2013 ) and skin tone (Prusaczyk and Choma, 2018 ). Asia is a very diverse area in terms of affluence and cultural groups, and unsurprisingly, these differences have been found to be associated with variations in body image concerns. Thus, for example, in highly Westernized and affluent parts of Asia, levels of body image concerns are among the highest in the world (e.g. Shih and Kubo, 2005 ; Jung et al., 2009 ).

As in other cultures, support has been found for the role of media influence in body image across Asian countries including in Singapore (Chang et al., 2019 ), Taiwan (Chang et al., 2013 ), Korea (You and Shin, 2020 ), Hong Kong and China (Rochelle and Hu, 2017 ), and Japan (Ando et al., 2021 ), as well as the role of the internalization of appearance ideals (Omori et al., 2017 ; Hsu et al., 2021 ). In addition, work has been accumulating from a positive body image perspective, suggesting that these constructs are relevant to these groups (Swami and Jaafar, 2012 ; Todd and Swami, 2020 ).

As documented in other cultural contexts, in Asian countries body image concerns have been associated with eating disorder symptoms (Yamamiya et al., 2008 ; Chisuwa and O’Dea, 2010 ; Kaewpradub et al., 2017 ), depression (Prusaczyk and Choma, 2018 ), and poorer quality of life (Santhira Shagar et al., 2021 ). In very recent years, prevention efforts have been extended to affluent and developing areas of Asia (Craddock et al., 2021 ; Danthinne et al., 2022 ; Garbett et al., 2022 ); however, more work is needed.

The Middle East

Body image concerns are present in the Middle East; however, much of the existing work has focused on women, with rare exceptions (Melki et al., 2015 ; Saghir and Hyland, 2017 ). A study among women from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Syria revealed that in each country 32–39% of women reported being dissatisfied with their body weight, and 17–22% reported a preference for the body shape of Western models (Musaiger, 2015 ). In another study among women from southwestern Saudi Arabia, 77% indicated a discrepancy between their actual, perceived, and ideal weights (Khalaf et al., 2015 ).

Similar to findings in other settings, urbanization has been associated with a preference for thinness (Jackson et al., 2003 ), and research has pointed to the role of sociocultural factors in body image concerns, including the role of media (Tayyem et al., 2016 ; Saghir and Hyland, 2017 ) and the internalization of appearance ideals (Melki et al., 2015 ; Zainal et al., 2020 ). Perhaps in this geographic area more than others, the role of cultural and religious values and behaviors has been explored, with findings suggesting that the relationships are complex and require further disentangling (Al-Mutawa et al., 2019 ; Sidi et al., 2020 ).

Again, as in other contexts, body image concerns have been associated with eating disorder symptoms in students from Iran (Naeimi et al., 2016 ) and with depression among students in Turkey (Tayfur and Evrensel, 2020 ). These findings suggest that here too, body image may be accompanied by significant mental health burden, and that tailoring and extending prevention efforts to these settings would be important.

While specific appearance ideals and body image concerns vary across contexts throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, traditional standards of beauty for women often reflect a preference for a larger body size and a fuller, curvier shape (Furnham and Baguma, 1994 ; Tovée et al., 2006 ; Naigaga et al., 2018 ). These traditional standards of attractiveness and beauty continue to exert influence on body image ideals today, with women and men at higher weights endorsing greater appearance satisfaction than those at lower weights (Otakpor and Ehimigbai, 2016 ; Tuoyire et al., 2018 ).

Consistent with this, cross-cultural work has supported that body image satisfaction, including as related to weight and muscularity, is higher among groups from African countries as compared to similarly aged groups from countries such as China, Indonesia, and Ecuador (Blum et al., 2021 ), and the UK (Thornborrow et al., 2020 ).

However, globalization has brought increasing pressures to achieve Eurocentric beauty ideals and a greater desire for smaller hips, larger buttocks, straight hair, lighter skin tones, and slimmer noses among African women (Balogun-Mwangi et al., under review ; Eddy et al., 2007 ; Kaziga et al., 2021 ). Consistent with theories regarding the role of accelerating modernity, among women in South Africa, Cameroon, and Uganda, higher levels of desire for thinness and preference for smaller bodies have developed (Dapi et al., 2007 ; Prioreschi et al., 2017 ; Kaziga et al., 2021 ), as well as a preference for Eurocentric beauty ideals among women from Nigeria versus Kenya (Balogun-Mwangi et al., under review ). Thus, appearance ideals may be changing in African countries and pressures to pursue mainstream globalized appearances may be increasing.

As predicted by sociocultural theories, these pressures, including pressures from social media, which represents a principal source of globalized appearance pressures, have been found to be associated with body size dissatisfaction (Michels and Amenyah, 2017 ), desire for a thinner body (Terhoeven et al., 2020 ), and poorer overall body image (Kaziga et al., 2021 ) in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Uganda, respectively. Although multiple factors may be at play, increased exposure to Western (but not Zimbabwean) media was found to account for poorer body image among Zimbabwean women (Swami et al., 2012 ). The literature pertaining to body image among men in Africa is more scarce. Nevertheless, emerging research has suggested that while dissatisfaction with muscularity may be present in men, rates are lower than in other cultural contexts such as the USA (Frederick et al., 2007 ).

Consistent with findings from around the globe, in Africa greater body image concerns have been associated with poorer mental health outcomes, including eating disorders (Prioreschi et al., 2017 ; Terhoeven et al., 2020 ), depression and anxiety (Corona et al., 2019 ), lower quality of life (Ejike, 2015 ), and general psychiatric morbidity (Otakpor and Ehimigbai, 2016 ). Again, efforts to prevent this burden would be important.

Global commonalities

Although differences exist, the literature has also highlighted commonalities across countries at the global level in terms of appearance ideals (Lipinski and Pope, 2002 ; Swami et al., 2010 ), the nature of body image concerns, and potential risk factors in the development of these concerns. Support has been found for media exposure, and particularly Westernized media exposure, as a correlate of poorer body image among adults across 26 countries in 10 world regions (Swami et al., 2010 ; Schaefer et al., 2019 ). Similarly, among adolescents from 24 countries across Europe, Canada, and the USA, the role of parental influence in body image has been supported (Al Sabbah et al., 2009 ). These findings provide strong support for continuing to ground work in sociocultural models that account for these pathways.

In addition, the literature has supported the fact that immigration from a lower income and less Westernized area to a higher income, urban, and Westernized area is frequently accompanied by increased body image concerns (Toselli et al., 2016 ). This increase may be related to greater exposure to Western media, as well as increased minority stress, and a loss of capital that may lead to body capital becoming more salient.

Importantly, the consistent findings regarding the association between body image and multiple indicators of poor mental health including eating disorders, mood disorders, and general impaired functioning highlight the critical nature of body image concerns. Coordinated efforts should be made to address this global issue.

Theoretical and practical implications

Theoretical implications.

Predominant theories that have been useful for conceptualizing body image concerns include those that highlight the importance of sociocultural identities, particularly from an intersectional and minority stress standpoint. The majority of the work that has been conducted outside of high-income Western countries has focused on sociocultural elements including pressures toward thinness and internalization of media ideals (e.g. Moreno-Domínguez et al., 2019 ; Zainal et al., 2020 ; Hsu et al., 2021 ). This represents an important gap, as theories that can account for the ways in which appearance is tied to power and privilege are likely particularly useful ones in such contexts. Future work at the global level should seek to explore these facets to a greater extent. It is notable, however, that the work grounded in sociocultural theories suggested that these frameworks and their related constructs are still applicable outside of affluent Western contexts. Together, these findings suggest that additional attention should be focused on extending theories to be culturally informed and sensitive to cultural variations as well as integrating important elements of minority and intersectionality theory.

Practice implications

From a practice perspective, findings highlight three important elements. First, the prevalence of body image concerns worldwide is high. Second, these concerns are robustly linked to mental health concerns. Third, prevention efforts are limited by their failure to be embedded in existing structures (e.g. school curriculum, etc.) and by the fact that some of the programs that have received the greatest research attention target body image in the context of eating disorder prevention. Together, these three elements point to an urgent need to elevate the seriousness of appearance concerns at a global level and to continue efforts to develop universal and targeted interventions with a broad reach that can be easily disseminated, for example through embedding them in existing services for youth or by leveraging the reach of digital technologies. These efforts should build on additional work extending theoretical frameworks that can identify cross-cultural core intervention targets (such as internalization of appearance ideals) as well as culturally specific ones.

Future directions

Although initially constricted to high-income English-speaking countries, the empirical literature focused on body image has started to extend to a global level, making important contributions to our knowledge of the global burden of body image concerns. Despite these contributions, several areas of future research emerge.

Extending to more diverse groups

Replicating the ways in which the body image literature developed within the field, the majority of the extant literature from areas such as Africa or the Middle East has to date largely focused on women and thinness-related concerns. Moving forward, it will be important to extend this work to more diverse groups in terms of gender, sexual orientation, age, and ability. Moreover, while important work has been conducted on the role of urbanization, it will be important to better understand how low socioeconomic status may place individuals at greatest risk for body image concerns and unhealthy behaviors in urban settings. Finally, using an intersectional lens will enrich the literature and provide a more fine-grained understanding of the way vulnerability to these concerns is distributed through the population (Burke et al., 2020 ).

Expanding to more culturally relevant understandings of body image

As described above, a large amount of the existing literature has centered on body weight and shape, with a predominant focus on thinness and to some extent on muscularity. Evidence for the importance of other aspects of appearance in body image exists, however (Lowy et al., 2021 ). Future research should seek to better characterize the aspects of appearance that may be particularly central to body image in different groups so as to conduct culturally sensitive research.

In addition, greater focus on positive elements of body image will help to shift conceptualizations toward a strengths-based model and to increase understanding of the unique strengths certain cultural groups may have in terms of positive body image. In particular, exploring settings in which appearance is less salient may be helpful for understanding how to decenter appearance in affluent and highly Westernized contexts.

Preventing and decreasing body image concerns

Finally, given the global rates and commonalities of body image concerns, greater efforts should be made to prevent and decrease these concerns. Although scalable interventions have started to emerge across the globe (Marchand et al., 2011 ; Craddock et al., 2021 ; Garbett et al., 2022 ), this work is still in its infancy. In addition to developing such programs, working with stakeholders and policymakers is crucial to decreasing universal risk for body image concerns effectively at a global level, with Western media emerging as a particularly important target (Bell et al., 2016 ).

Conclusions

The findings from this review highlight how body image concerns constitute a burden at the global level, with higher levels of risk among already vulnerable groups. The oppressive nature of appearance ideals, combined with their function to maintain social hierarchies and generate profit, contributes to explaining this increased risk. The variations in risk observed at the global level, which map onto levels of economic development and international power, are to some extent replicated within countries (such as within the USA where minoritized groups experience greater concerns) and geographic areas (e.g. in Europe, where lower income countries report higher levels of body image concerns). However, countries in which Westernized appearance ideals are still only gaining ground, and where the social emphasis on appearance is lower, may still be protected from body image concerns to some extent (Frederick et al., 2007 ).

Open peer review

To view the open peer review materials for this article, please visit http://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2023.2 .

Author contributions

All authors contributed to reviewing the relevant research, drafting the first version of the manuscript, and final editing.

Competing interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

• Aimé A, Dion J and Maïano C (2022) L’image Corporelle Sous Toutes Ses Formes . PUQ, Québec, Canada. [ Google Scholar ]
• Al Sabbah H, Vereecken CA, Elgar FJ, Nansel T, Aasvee K, Abdeen Z, Ojala K, Ahluwalia N and Maes L (2009) Body weight dissatisfaction and communication with parents among adolescents in 24 countries: International cross-sectional survey . BMC Public Health 9 , 52. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Alleva JM and Tylka TL (2021) Body functionality: A review of the literature . Body Image 36 , 149–171. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Almeida M, Brown TA, Campos PF, Amaral ACS and de Carvalho PHB (2021) Dissonance‐based eating disorder prevention delivered in‐person after an online training: A randomized controlled trial for Brazilian men with body dissatisfaction . International Journal of Eating Disorders 54 , 293–304. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Al-Mutawa N, Schuilenberg SJ, Justine R and Taher SK (2019) Modesty, objectification, and disordered eating patterns: A comparative study between veiled and unveiled Muslim women residing in Kuwait . Medical Principles and Practice 28 , 41–47. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Amaral ACS and Ferreira MEC (2017) Body dissatisfaction and associated factors among Brazilian adolescents: A longitudinal study . Body Image 22 , 32–38. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Ando K, Giorgianni FE, Danthinne ES and Rodgers RF (2021) Beauty ideals, social media, and body positivity: A qualitative investigation of influences on body image among young women in Japan . Body Image 38 , 358–369. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Austin JL and Smith JE (2008) Thin ideal internalization in Mexican girls: A test of the sociocultural model of eating disorders . International Journal of Eating Disorders 41 , 448–457. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Balogun-Mwangi O, Robinson-Wood TL, DeTore NR, Edwards George JB, Rodgers RF and Sanchez W (under review). Body image and Black African women: A comparative study of Kenya and Nigeria.
• Barbosa BD (2021) Impact of a school-based body image intervention in Portuguese adolescents: The confident me programme. Accessed 25 Jan 2022. Available at http://repositorio-aberto.up.pt .
• Becker AE (2004) Television, disordered eating, and young women in Fiji: Negotiating body image and identity during rapid social change . Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 28 , 533–559. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Bell MJ, Rodgers RF and Paxton SJ (2016) Towards successful evidence-based universal eating disorders prevention: The importance of zooming out . Eating Behaviors 25 , 89–92. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Blum RW, Li M, Choiriyyah I, Barnette Q, Michielson K and Mmari K (2021) Body satisfaction in early adolescence: A multisite comparison . Journal of Adolescent Health 69 , S39–S46. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Bolívar-Suárez Y, Gómez JAM, Yanez-Peñúñuri LY, Anacona CAR and Gómez AMG (2021) Self-esteem, body image, and dating violence in Colombian adolescents and young adults . Journal of Interpersonal Violence 37 , NP11628–NP11651. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Bourdieu P (2018). The forms of capital. In  The Sociology of Economic Life . Routledge, Westport, CT. pp. 78–92. [ Google Scholar ]
• Brausch AM and Gutierrez PM (2009) The role of body image and disordered eating as risk factors for depression and suicidal ideation in adolescents . Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior 39 , 58–71. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Brewster ME, Sandil R, DeBlaere C, Breslow A and Eklund A (2017) “Do you even lift, bro?” objectification, minority stress, and body image concerns for sexual minority men . Psychology of Men & Masculinity 18 , 87–98. [ Google Scholar ]
• Brewster ME, Velez BL, Breslow AS and Geiger EF (2019) Unpacking body image concerns and disordered eating for transgender women: The roles of sexual objectification and minority stress . Journal of Counseling Psychology 66 , 131–142. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Burke NL, Schaefer LM, Hazzard VM and Rodgers RF (2020) Where identities converge: The importance of intersectionality in eating disorders research . International Journal of Eating Disorders 53 , 1605–1609. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Cash TF (2004) Body image: Past, present, and future . Body Image 1 , 1–5. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Castillo I, Solano S and Sepúlveda AR (2019) A controlled study of an integrated prevention program for improving disordered eating and body image among Mexican university students: A 3‐month follow‐up . European Eating Disorders Review 27 , 541–556. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Chang FC, Lee CM, Chen PH, Chiu CH, Pan YC and Huang TF (2013) Association of thin-ideal media exposure, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors among adolescents in Taiwan . Eating Behaviors 14 , 382–385. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Chang L, Li P, Loh RSM and Chua THH (2019) A study of Singapore adolescent girls’ selfie practices, peer appearance comparisons, and body esteem on Instagram . Body Image 29 , 90–99. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Chisuwa N and O’Dea JA (2010) Body image and eating disorders amongst Japanese adolescents. A review of the literature . Appetite 54 , 5–15. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Compte EJ, Sepulveda AR and Torrente F (2015) A two‐stage epidemiological study of eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia in male university students in Buenos Aires . International Journal of Eating Disorders 48 , 1092–1101. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Convertino AD, Helm JL, Pennesi J-L, Gonzales M and Blashill AJ (2021) Integrating minority stress theory and the tripartite influence model: A model of eating disordered behavior in sexual minority young adults . Appetite 163 , 105204. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Corona R, Hood KB and Haffejee F (2019) The relationship between body image perceptions and condom use outcomes in a sample of south African emerging adults . Prevention Science 20 , 147–156. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Corry N, Pruzinsky T and Rumsey N (2009) Quality of life and psychosocial adjustment to burn injury: Social functioning, body image, and health policy perspectives . International Review of Psychiatry 21 , 539–548. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Craddock N, Garbett KM, Haywood S, Nasution K, White P, Saraswati L, Rizkiah C, Medise B and Diedrichs PC (2021) ‘Dove confident me Indonesia: Single session’: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate a school-based body image intervention among Indonesian adolescents . BMC Public Health 21 , 2101. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Danthinne ES, Giorgianni FE, Ando K and Rodgers RF (2022) Real beauty: Effects of a body‐positive video on body image and capacity to mitigate exposure to social media images . British Journal of Health Psychology 27 , 320–337. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Dapi LN, Omoloko C, Janlert U, Dahlgren L and Håglin L (2007) I eat to be happy, to be strong, and to live. Perceptions of rural and urban adolescents in Cameroon, Africa . Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 39 , 320–326. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Davison TE and McCabe MP (2006) Adolescent body image and psychosocial functioning . Journal of Social Psychology 146 , 15–30. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• de Carvalho PHB, Alvarenga MS and Ferreira MEC (2017) An etiological model of disordered eating behaviors among Brazilian women . Appetite 116 , 164–172. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• de Carvalho PHB and Ferreira MEC (2020) Disordered eating and body change behaviours: Support for the tripartite influence model among Brazilian male university students . Ciência & Saúde Coletiva 25 , 4485–4495. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Delgado-Floody P, Guzmán-Guzmán IP, Caamaño-Navarrete F, Jerez-Mayorga D, Zulic-Agramunt C and Cofré-Lizama A (2021) Depression is associated with lower levels of physical activity, body image dissatisfaction, and obesity in Chilean preadolescents . Psychology, Health & Medicine 26 , 518–531. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Diedrichs PC, Atkinson MJ, Steer RJ, Garbett KM, Rumsey N and Halliwell E (2015) Effectiveness of a brief school-based body image intervention ‘dove confident me: Single Session’ when delivered by teachers and researchers: Results from a cluster randomised controlled trial . Behaviour Research and Therapy 74 , 94–104. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Drummond MJ (2002) Men, body image, and eating disorders . International Journal of Men’s Health 1 , 89–103. [ Google Scholar ]
• Eddy KT, Hennessey M and Thompson-Brenner H (2007) Eating pathology in east African women: The role of media exposure and globalization . The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 195 ( 3 ), 196–202. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Edmonds A (2007) ‘The poor have the right to be beautiful’: Cosmetic surgery in neoliberal Brazil . Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 13 , 363–381. [ Google Scholar ]
• Ejike CE (2015) Body shape dissatisfaction is a ‘normative discontent’ in a young-adult Nigerian population: A study of prevalence and effects on health-related quality of life . Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health 5 , S19–S26. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Fitzsimmons-Craft EE (2011) Social psychological theories of disordered eating in college women: Review and integration . Clinical Psychology Review 31 , 1224–1237. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Forbes GB, Jung J, Vaamonde JD, Omar A, Paris L and Formiga NS (2012) Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in three cultures: Argentina, Brazil, and the US . Sex Roles 66 , 677–694. [ Google Scholar ]
• Frederick DA, Buchanan GM, Sadehgi-Azar L, Peplau LA, Haselton MG, Berezovskaya A and Lipinski RE (2007) Desiring the muscular ideal: Men’s body satisfaction in the United States, Ukraine, and Ghana . Psychology of Men & Masculinity 8 , 103–117. [ Google Scholar ]
• Frederick DA, Crerand CE, Brown TA, Perez M, Best CR, Cook-Cottone CP, Compte EJ, Convertino L, Gordon AR, Malcarne VL, Nagata JM, Parent MC, Pennesi J, Pila E, Rodgers RF, Schaefer LM, Thompson JK, Tylka TL and Murray SB (2022) Demographic predictors of body image satisfaction: The US body project I . Body Image 41 , 17–31. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Furnham A and Baguma P (1994) Cross-cultural differences in the evaluation of male and female body shapes . International Journal of Eating Disorders 15 , 81–89. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Garbett KM, Craddock N, Haywood S, Nasution K, White P, Saraswati LA, Medise BE, Diedrichs PC and Williamson H (2022) A novel, scalable social media–based intervention (“Warna-Warni Waktu”) to reduce body dissatisfaction among young Indonesian women: Protocol for a parallel randomized controlled trial . JMIR Research Protocols 11 , e33596. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Gorrell S, Trainor C and Le Grange D (2019) The impact of urbanization on risk for eating disorders . Current Opinion in Psychiatry 32 , 242. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Gruber E, Kalkbrenner MT and Hitter TL (2022) A complex conceptualization of beauty in Latinx women: A mixed methods study . Body Image 41 , 432–442. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Halliwell E (2015) Future directions for positive body image research . Body Image 14 , 177–189. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Hesse-Biber S, Leavy P, Quinn CE and Zoino J (2006) The mass marketing of disordered eating and eating disorders: The social psychology of women, thinness and culture . Women’s Studies 29 , 208–224. [ Google Scholar ]
• Holmqvist K and Frisén A (2010) Body dissatisfaction across cultures: Findings and research problems . European Eating Disorders Review 18 , 133–146. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Hsu JL, Hung RT and Antoine M (2021) Investigating the linkages between BMI, body image, and SATAQ among young Asian females . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 , 7460. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Hunter ML (2011) Buying racial capital: Skin-bleaching and cosmetic surgery in a globalized world . The Journal of Pan African Studies 4 , 142–164. [ Google Scholar ]
• Jackson RT, Rashed M and Saad-Eldin R (2003) Rural urban differences in weight, body image, and dieting behavior among adolescent Egyptian schoolgirls . International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 54 , 1–11. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Jarry JL, Dignard NA and O’Driscoll LM (2019) Appearance investment: The construct that changed the field of body image . Body Image 31 , 221–244. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Jung J, Forbes GB and Lee Y-J (2009) Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among early adolescents from Korea and the US . Sex Roles 61 , 42–54. [ Google Scholar ]
• Kaewpradub N, Kiatrungrit K, Hongsanguansri S and Pavasuthipaisit C (2017) Association among internet usage, body image and eating behaviors of secondary school students . Shanghai Archives of Psychiatry 29 , 208. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Kaziga R, Muchunguzi C, Achen D and Kools S (2021) Beauty is skin deep; the self-perception of adolescents and young women in construction of body image within the Ankole society . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 , 7840. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Khalaf A, Westergren A, Berggren V, Ekblom Ö and Al-Hazzaa HM (2015) Perceived and ideal body image in young women in South Western Saudi Arabia . Journal of Obesity 2015 , 697163. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Koutsantoni M, Kkeli N and Argyrides M (2020) The comparison of Cyprus to six other European countries on body image satisfaction, appearance investment and weight and appearance-related anxiety . The European Journal of Counselling Psychology 8 , 32–42. [ Google Scholar ]
• Kvalem IL, Graham CA, Hald GM, Carvalheira AA, Janssen E and Štulhofer A (2020) The role of body image in sexual satisfaction among partnered older adults: A population-based study in four European countries . European Journal of Ageing 17 ( 2 ), 163–173. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Leiva-Peña V, Rubí-González P and Vicente-Parada B (2021) Social determinants of mental health: Public policies based on the biopsychosocial model in Latin American countries. Determinantes sociais da saúde mental: políticas públicas a partir do Modelo biopsicossocial em países latino-americanos . Pan American Journal of Public Health 45 , e158. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Lemes DCM, Câmara SG, Alves GG and Aerts D (2018) Body image satisfaction and subjective wellbeing among ninth-grade students attending state schools in Canoas, Brazil . Ciencia & Saude Coletiva 23 , 4289–4298. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• León-Paucar SD, Calderón-Olivos BC, Calizaya-Milla YE and Saintila J (2021) Depression, dietary intake, and body image during coronavirus disease 2019 quarantine in Peru: An online cross-sectional study . SAGE Open Medicine 9 , 20503121211051914. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Lewis-Smith H, Diedrichs PC and Halliwell E (2019) Cognitive-behavioral roots of body image therapy and prevention . Body Image 31 , 309–320. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Lipinski JP and Pope HG (2002) Body ideals in young Samoan men: A comparison with men in North America and Europe . International Journal of Men’s Health 1 , 163. [ Google Scholar ]
• Lowy AS, Rodgers RF, Franko DL, Pluhar E and Webb JB (2021) Body image and internalization of appearance ideals in black women: An update and call for culturally-sensitive research . Body Image 39 , 313–327. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Marchand E, Stice E, Rohde P and Becker CB (2011) Moving from efficacy to effectiveness trials in prevention research . Behaviour Research and Therapy 49 , 32–41. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Marquez B and Benitez T (2021) Individual and family factors in disordered eating patterns of Mexican-American women . American Journal of Health Behavior 45 , 1050–1058. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Matias TS, Silva KS, Duca GFD, Bertuol C, Lopes MVV and Nahas MV (2020) Attitudes towards body weight dissatisfaction associated with adolescents’ perceived health and sleep (PeNSE 2015) . Ciência & Saúde Coletiva 25 , 1483–1490. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• McArthur LH, Holbert D and Pena M (2005) An exploration of the attitudinal and perceptual dimensions of body image among male and female adolescents from six Latin American cities . Adolescence 40 , 801–816. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• McElhone S, Kearney JM, Giachetti I, Zunft HJ and Martínez JA (1999) Body image perception in relation to recent weight changes and strategies for weight loss in a nationally representative sample in the European Union . Public Health Nutrition 2 , 143–151. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• McLaren L and Kuh D (2004) Women’s body dissatisfaction, social class, and social mobility . Social Science & Medicine 58 , 1575–1584. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• McLean SA and Paxton SJ (2019) Body image in the context of eating disorders . Psychiatric Clinics 42 , 145–156. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Melki JP, Hitti EA, Oghia MJ and Mufarrij AA (2015) Media exposure, mediated social comparison to idealized images of muscularity, and anabolic steroid use . Health Communication 30 , 473–484. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Mellor D, McCabe M, Ricciardelli L and Merino ME (2008) Body dissatisfaction and body change behaviors in Chile: The role of sociocultural factors . Body Image 5 , 205–215. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Mellor D, Waterhouse M, Bt Mamat NH, Xu X, Cochrane J, Mccabe M and Ricciardelli L (2013) Which body features are associated with female adolescents’ body dissatisfaction? A cross-cultural study in Australia, China and Malaysia . Body Image 10 , 54–61. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Michels N and Amenyah SD (2017) Body size ideals and dissatisfaction in Ghanaian adolescents: Role of media, lifestyle and well-being . Public Health 146 , 65–74. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Moreno-Domínguez S, Rutsztein G, Geist TA, Pomichter EE and Cepeda-Benito A (2019) Body mass index and nationality (argentine vs. Spanish) moderate the relationship between internalization of the thin ideal and body dissatisfaction: A conditional mediation model . Frontiers in Psychology 10 , 582. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Musaiger A (2015) Body weight concern among female university students in five Arab countries–a preliminary cross-cultural study . Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 22 , 349–352. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Naeimi AF, Haghighian HK, Gargari BP, Alizadeh M and Rouzitalab T (2016) Eating disorders risk and its relation to self-esteem and body image in Iranian university students of medical sciences . Eating and Weight Disorders 21 , 597–605. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Naigaga DA, Jahanlu D, Claudius HM, Gjerlaug AK, Barikmo I and Henjum S (2018) Body size perceptions and preferences favor overweight in adult Saharawi refugees . Nutrition Journal 17 , 17. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Omori M, Yamazaki Y, Aizawa N and de Zoysa P (2017) Thin-ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction in Sri Lankan adolescents . Journal of Health Psychology 22 , 1830–1840. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Otakpor AN and Ehimigbai M (2016) Body image perception and mental health of in-school adolescents in Benin City, Nigeria . The Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal 23 , 71–78. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Pachankis JE, Clark KA, Burton CL, Hughto JMW, Bränström R and Keene DE (2020) Sex, status, competition, and exclusion: Intraminority stress from within the gay community and gay and bisexual men’s mental health . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 119 , 713. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Peterson RD, Grippo KP and Tantleff-Dunn S (2008) Empowerment and powerlessness: A closer look at the relationship between feminism, body image and eating disturbance . Sex Roles 58 ( 9 ), 639–648. [ Google Scholar ]
• Pinheiro KAT, Horta BL, Pinheiro RT, Horta LL, Terres NG and Silva RA (2007) Common mental disorders in adolescents: A population based cross-sectional study . Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry 29 , 241–245. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Piran N (2019) Handbook of Positive Body Image and Embodiment: Constructs, Protective Factors, and Interventions . New York: Oxford University Press. [ Google Scholar ]
• Prioreschi A, Wrottesley SV, Cohen E, Reddy A, Said-Mohamed R, Twine R, Tollman SM, Kahn K, Dunger DB and Norris SA (2017) Examining the relationships between body image, eating attitudes, BMI, and physical activity in rural and urban south African young adult females using structural equation modeling . PLoS One 12 , e0187508. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Prusaczyk E and Choma BL (2018) Skin tone surveillance, depression, and life satisfaction in Indian women: Colour-blind racial ideology as a moderator . Body Image 27 , 179–186. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Quiñones IC, Herbozo S and Haedt-Matt AA (2022) Body dissatisfaction among ethnic subgroups of Latin women: An examination of acculturative stress and ethnic identity . Body Image 41 , 272–283. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Ramos P, Moreno-Maldonado C, Moreno C and Rivera F (2019) The role of body image in internalizing mental health problems in Spanish adolescents: An analysis according to sex, age, and socioeconomic status . Frontiers in Psychology 10 , 1952. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Resende TRO, Almeida M, dos Santos Alvarenga M, Brown TA and de Carvalho PHB (2022) Dissonance-based eating disorder prevention improves intuitive eating: A randomized controlled trial for Brazilian women with body dissatisfaction . Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity 27 , 1099–1112. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Rivero A, Killoren SE, Kline G and Campione-Barr N (2022) Negative messages from parents and sisters and Latina college students’ body image shame . Body Image 42 , 98–109. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Roberts TA, Calogero RM and Gervais SJ (2018) Objectification theory: Continuing contributions to feminist psychology. In Travis CB, White JW, Rutherford A, Williams WS, Cook SL and Wyche KF (eds.), APA Handbook of the Psychology of Women: History, Theory, and Battlegrounds , American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C. pp. 249–271. [ Google Scholar ]
• Rochelle TL and Hu W (2017) Media influence on drive for thinness, body satisfaction, and eating attitudes among young women in Hong Kong and China . Psychology, Health & Medicine 22 , 310–318. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Rodgers RF, Chabrol H and Paxton SJ (2011) An exploration of the tripartite influence model of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among Australian and French college women . Body Image 8 , 208–215. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Rutsztein G, Murawski B, Leonardelli E, Scappatura ML, Elizathe L, Custodio J, … Keegan E (2021) Prevention of eating disorders: Impact on female adolescents from Argentina with and without dieting behavior . Mental Health & Prevention 22 , 200202. [ Google Scholar ]
• Saghir S and Hyland L (2017) The effects of immigration and media influence on body image among Pakistani men . American Journal of Men’s Health 11 , 930–940. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Santhira Shagar P, Donovan CL, Boddy J, Tapp C and Harris N (2021) Does culture moderate the relationship between body dissatisfaction and quality of life? A comparative study of Australian and Malaysian emerging adults . Health Psychology Open 8 , 20551029211018378. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Schaefer LM, Burke NL, Anderson LM, Thompson JK, Heinberg LJ, Bardone-Cone AM, MKH N, Frederick DA, Anderson DA, Schaumberg K, Nerini A, Stefanile C, Dittmar H, Klump KL, Vercellone AC and Paxton SJ (2019) Comparing internalization of appearance ideals and appearance-related pressures among women from the United States, Italy, England, and Australia . Eating and Weight Disorders 24 , 947–951. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Shih MY and Kubo C (2005) Body shape preference and body satisfaction of Taiwanese and Japanese female college students . Psychiatry Research 133 , 263–271. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Shroff H and Thompson JK (2006) The tripartite influence model of body image and eating disturbance: A replication with adolescent girls . Body Image 3 , 17–23. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Sidi Y, Geller S, Abu Sinni A, Levy S and Handelzalts JE (2020) Body image among Muslim women in Israel: Exploring religion and sociocultural pressures . Women & Health 60 , 1095–1108. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Silva DAS, Nahas MV, de Sousa TF, Del Duca GF and Peres KG (2011) Prevalence and associated factors with body image dissatisfaction among adults in southern Brazil: A population-based study . Body Image 8 , 427–431. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Silveira ML, Ertel KA, Dole N and Chasan-Taber L (2015) The role of body image in prenatal and postpartum depression: A critical review of the literature . Archives of Women’s Mental Health 18 , 409–421. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Stefanile C, Matera C, Nerini A and Pasciucco L (2015) Predittori Dell’interesse per La Chirurgia Estetica. Influenze Socioculturali E Insoddisfazione Corporea . Psicologia Della Salute 1 , 108–130. [ Google Scholar ]
• Swami V, Frederick DA, Aavik T, Alcalay L, Allik J, Anderson D, Andrianto S, Arora A, Brännström Å and Cunningham J (2010) The attractive female body weight and female body dissatisfaction in 26 countries across 10 world regions: Results of the international body project I . Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 36 , 309–325. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Swami V and Jaafar JL (2012) Factor structure of the body appreciation scale among Indonesian women and men: Further evidence of a two-factor solution in a non-Western population . Body Image 9 , 539–542. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Swami V, Mada R and Tovée MJ (2012) Weight discrepancy and body appreciation of Zimbabwean women in Zimbabwe and Britain . Body Image 9 , 559–562. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Swami V, Tran US, Barron D, Afhami R, Aimé A, Almenara CA, Dal NA, Amaral ACS, et al. (2020) The breast size satisfaction survey (BSSS): Breast size dissatisfaction and its antecedents and outcomes in women from 40 nations . Body Image 32 , 199–217. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Tayfur SN and Evrensel A (2020) Investigation of the relationships between eating attitudes, body image and depression among Turkish university students . Rivista di Psichiatria 55 , 90–97. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Tayyem RF, Bawadi HA, AbuMweis SS, Allehdan S, Agraib L, Ghazzawi HA, Al-Mannai MA and Musaiger AO (2016) Association between mass media and body weight concern among Jordanian adolescents’ residents of Amman: The role of gender and obesity . Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 21 , 430–438. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Terhoeven V, Nikendei C, Bärnighausen T, Bountogo M, Friederich HC, Ouermi L, Sié A and Harling G (2020) Eating disorders, body image and media exposure among adolescent girls in rural Burkina Faso . Tropical Medicine & International Health 25 , 132–141. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Thompson JK, Heinberg LJ, Altabe M and Tantleff-Dunn S (1999) Exacting Beauty: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment of Body Image Disturbance . Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. [ Google Scholar ]
• Thornborrow T, Onwuegbusi T, Mohamed S, Boothroyd LG and Tovée MJ (2020) Muscles and the media: A natural experiment across cultures in men’s body image . Frontiers in Psychology 11 , 495. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Todd J and Swami V (2020) Assessing the measurement invariance of two positive body image instruments in adults from Malaysia and the United Kingdom . Body Image 34 , 112–116. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Toselli S, Rinaldo N and Gualdi-Russo E (2016) Body image perception of African immigrants in Europe . Globalization and Health 12 , 48. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Tovée MJ, Swami V, Furnham A and Mangalparsad R (2006) Changing perceptions of attractiveness as observers are exposed to a different culture . Evolution and Human Behavior 27 , 443–456. [ Google Scholar ]
• Træen B, Markovic A and Kvalem IL (2016) Sexual satisfaction and body image: A cross-sectional study among Norwegian young adults . Sexual and Relationship Therapy 31 , 123–137. [ Google Scholar ]
• Tuoyire DA, Kumi-Kyereme A, Doku DT and Amo-Adjei J (2018) Perceived ideal body size of Ghanaian women: “not too skinny, but not too fat . Women & Health 8 , 583–597. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Tylka TL and Wood-Barcalow NL (2015) What is and what is not positive body image? Conceptual foundations and construct definition . Body Image 14 , 118–129. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Veldhuis J, Te Poel F, Pepping R, Konijn EA and Spekman ML (2017) Skinny is prettier and Normal: I want to be Normal”—Perceived body image of non-Western ethnic minority children in the Netherlands . Body Image 20 , 74–86. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Widdows H (2018) Perfect me: Beauty as an Ethical Ideal . Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. [ Google Scholar ]
• Yamamiya Y, Shroff H and Thompson JK (2008) The tripartite influence model of body image and eating disturbance: A replication with a Japanese sample . International Journal of Eating Disorders 41 , 88–91. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• You S and Shin K (2020) Sociocultural influences, drive for thinness, drive for muscularity, and body dissatisfaction among Korean undergraduates . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17 , 5260. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Zainal L, Stevens SD, Harriger JA and Herbozo S (2020) Internalization of the thin-ideal and eating pathology in Kuwaiti adult women . Frontiers in Psychology 11 , 559711. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]

Author comment: Body image as a global mental health concern — R0/PR1

Rachel rodgers.

Northeastern University, United States

8th August 2022

Dear Sir,

My coauthors and I would like to submit our manuscript titled “Body image as a global mental health concern” to Global Mental Health. Our review highlights the prevalence of body image concerns across the globe as well as associated risk factors, and the need for universal and targeted prevention.

Many thanks in advance for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing from you,

Yours sincerely,

Rachel Rodgers, Ph.D.. FAED

Associate Professor

Review: Body image as a global mental health concern — R0/PR2

Kristina holmqvist.

University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Comments to Author : Thank you for the opportunity to review this interesting manuscript. It is well-written, well-organized, and takes a much-needed global perspective on the widespread body image concerns across continents. It describes different theoretical frameworks for understanding body image concerns globally and it also summarizes what is known from research in different regions. I very much enjoyed reading this paper. Theories and results are clearly described. I especially liked the idea of interpreting the different rates in body image concerns in the light of the different theoretical frameworks and I think the paper could be improved by adding even more discussion/links between these. Below are my more specific comments:

Page 2: Body image is defined as “thoughts, feelings and behaviors of an individual related to their own appearance”, but body image may also comprise thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to other aspects of the body (health, functionality). Does this study focus more on the appearance domain? Please specify.

Page 2: “the early literature” – what time period does this refer to?

Page 2: it says “individuals whose identities afford them lower power and privilege” – could you please give examples?

Page 4: “toned yet curvy ideal” seems to describe a female ideal although this is not made explicit. Is there a global male ideal too?

Page 4: Critical feminist theories are salient in current body image research. Should this perspective be more emphasized in the theoretical part?

Page 2-5: It strikes me after reading the results that the research described seems to be investigating body image concerns mostly from sociocultural theory. It could be a good idea to think about the order of presentation of the theories, for example by starting with the most explored theory.

Page 6: it is stated that effective interventions have been developed – could you add some information regarding the focus of these interventions? This could be helpful for the other regions too.

Page 6: “In contrast, Latin countries…”. The previous sentence describes findings from Portugal which could be defined as a European Latin country. Should “in contrast” be removed from the sentence? Findings seem not to be in contrast. Should it be “Latin countries such as Portugal and X..”?

On page 14: “with higher levels of risk among already vulnerable groups.” – which are these groups? For example, one of the findings is that body image concerns are more salient in high-income English-speaking countries. This may not be considered a vulnerable group.

Some overall comments:

As mentioned above, I would like to see more connections between the results and the theories described. This is only briefly discussed on page 12 and I find this part very interesting. I think extending this discussion (for example in a section of its own) could really improve the paper. How can we understand the results in relation to the theories described? Is there support for all theories? How should future intervention/prevention look like considering these findings/theoretical frameworks?

Finally, there are a few grammatical errors/ typos in the MS, for example page 2 “privilege than underpin”, and page 4 “the role (of) appearance comparisons”.

Review: Body image as a global mental health concern — R0/PR3

Comments to Author : Manuscript ID: GMH-22-0225

The authors proposed an important review of the theoretical frameworks about body image concerns through the different regions of the globe. This is a relevant topic to be discussed, given its implications in our society, especially in mental health field. That said, I have some questions, concerns and comments.

1. I understand the limitation of the words count to give an in-depth discussion about the theoretical concepts elected. However, I think that the presentation of the theories (Body Capital, Sociocultural and Minority stress) is excessively superficial.

P.3 – when talking about Body Capital, the authors cite Edmonds (2007) and Hunter (2011) that are secondary references, i.e., they cite the original authors. It would be better if the authors cited original theorists such as Pierre Bourdieu.

P. 3 – the topic’s number is 2.2 instead of 2.3.

P. 4 – I think it is important add some references to the following phrase: “These theories also highlight how […] existing systems of power and privilege”.

P. 5 – I suggest better explain the integrative model by Convertino et al. (2021).

2. The topic about the empirical evidence across countries is very diverse. They lack unity and cohesion. The information about some regions is more complete and more detailed than others. Also, the authors cite some old studies (from 2010, for example) to sustain the argumentation. About prevention programs, I suggest that the authors standardize the inclusion of eating disorders prevention programs that contain body image concerns in its scripts (such as the Body Project versions cited in the Latin America topic), making this information clear in the text. For example, when talking about prevention programs target specifically on body image concerns, this should be highlighted as well as when the programs that are being cited are ED prevention interventions.

P. 7 – The authors cited Diedrichs et al. (2015) as a study among non-English speaking countries. However, this research was carried out in UK.

P. 7 – The study from Barbosa (2021) is not cited in the references.

3. In order to better establish the relevance and innovation of the proposed review, the authors should add a topic summarizing how the found results across globe confirm or refute the theoretical concepts elected and presented (Body Capital, Sociocultural and Minority stress). Moreover, a better discussion about the implication of these information to the global mental health ins recommended.

Specific questions from the editor:

Question 1:

For global reviews, how well does the review cover global content in the inclusion of research, presentation of results, and/or in the discussion and implications? And how could this be improved/expanded?

The manuscript gives an overall framework about body image concerns around different regions of the globe. Besides that, it would be important to better discuss the implications of these information to the global mental health field.

Recommendation: Body image as a global mental health concern — R0/PR4

No accompanying comment.

Decision: Body image as a global mental health concern — R0/PR5

Decision: body image as a global mental health concern — r0/pr6.

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

What do you think you look like? Body image is the mental representation an individual creates of themselves, but it may or may not bear any relation to how one actually appears. Body image is subject to all kinds of distortions from the attitudes of one's parents, other early experiences, internal elements like emotions or moods, and other factors. The severe form of poor body image is body dysmorphic disorder, where dissatisfaction over a slight or undetectable defect in appearance becomes a severe obsession.

• The Dangers of Negative Body Image
• Who Suffers from Distortion?
• Overcoming Poor Body Image
• Signs of Poor Body Image

Poor body image can affect a person in many ways, including performance in academics or in one’s professional career , relationship satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Often a person zeroes in on a specific area like the nose, breasts, or legs. In reality, however, this perceived flaw is not even noticeable to others. People who suffer from severe levels of disorder obsess over a flaw to a point of dysfunction, with some people even repeatedly visiting cosmetic surgeons.

Body dissatisfaction can be minor, too bad my nose is so big , or it can be severe, I hate everything about my body. Once you start to think that you have a flaw, your mind runs with the distraction and turns it into more than it is. All of which affects the way you think and feel about how you look, and about life in general.

Yes. Body dysmorphic disorder is more prevalent in people who opt for cosmetic surgery. Compared to the 1 to 2 percent prevalence of BDD in the general population, rates of up to 7 to 15 percent have been identified in the cosmetic surgery population.

Being exposed to images of airbrushed supermodels and perfectly sculpted celebrities, even briefly, can trigger body shame , body dissatisfaction, depression , anxiety , and eating disordered behaviors .  

Research has found that even young children can display excess concern about body weight, but fortunately many children outgrow these worries. And children experiencing body awareness, sometimes as young as age 8 or 9, are more likely a reaction to peer pressure and self-consciousness rather than suffering from any true disorder. But a distorted perspective can be real for people from the pre-teenage years through to adulthood, with more women than men suffering.

Thoughts and opinions about one’s body can start forming as early as 3 years of age. Often this is a direct result of a parent’s relationship with their own bodies. How a parent sees herself is influential and can mold a child’s ideas about their body.

A person's body image strongly influences their behavior. Preoccupation with, and distortions of, body image have been found to be widespread among American women and, to a much lesser extent, among males.

In the midst of body image angst, people tend to forget about the body's important utility, and it does so much for us, too--our bodies get us from point A to point B, for example. Yet many people remain mired in a world where physical looks take primacy. To put body image back into perspective, experts suggest that you curb the use of social media , platforms where visitors are constantly reminded of the outsize value placed on looks and image are ill-advised. And if snapping a selfie makes you feel worse, then avoid it. No one deserves to go through life hating the place where they live – their body. Body image should not hinge on whether a person looks like a runway model. It's possible for a person to have a better view of their body no matter what it looks like.

Consider everything your body does for you. Thank the different parts of your body. Do your arms let you hold the people you love? Do your legs take you on walks to beautiful places? Do your hands help you express yourself? Write your body a letter of gratitude for the ways it has served you throughout your life.

Encourage your friend to talk about how they feel, yet discourage negative talk that shames them about their body and weight . Also engage in positive activities together, eating healthy and working out as friends, for example. 

People who harbor a negative view of their bodies may have chronic bleak and obsessive thoughts about the way they look. Here are some other signs of poor body image:

• Focuses excessive attention on a minor flaw in appearance.
• Views oneself as unattractive, even ugly.
• Fears other people can see the so-called deformity.
• Might be a perfectionist .
• Avoids social engagements.
• Constantly grooms and looks at oneself in the mirror.
• Constantly hides the perceived flaw with makeup or clothes.
• Constantly compares one’s appearance with other people’s.
• Pursues excessive cosmetic procedures or surgery.
• Needs reassurance from others ("Do I look fat in this?").
• Is never satisfied with appearance.

Calorie counting and negativity around numbers can spiral into disordered eating; considering a “New Math” approach can shift your perspective in a mindful, meaningful way.

Traditional dieting may not be the answer that we have been looking for. Let's explore what happens when we take a more mindful approach to eating.

The link between beauty filters, cosmetic procedures, and mental health is complex.

Even with new weight loss medications like Wegovy and Ozempic, addressing relationship culture around weight loss is key. Start with this 10-point plan for a healthy romance.

Expressions of appreciation can be healing in relationships, but sometimes, actions speak louder than words.

Knowing a child's BMI does not help parents assess how best to help them. Kids' body fat percentages change as they grow, and their BMIs vary based on age and gender.

A Personal Perspective: Most of us judge our bodies and obsess about being more perfect. How can we feel more comfortable in our skin?

Parents wield critical influence in eating disorder development and recovery.

Making peace with how you look now actually facilitates self-improvement. It’s hard to do anything proactively in a state of self-loathing.

How appearance anxiety is affecting the mental health of young women and girls.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Teletherapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

Self Image Essay

The self-image of a human is very critical to their existence as it can “make or break” their soul. Self-image is how a human would see themselves, which varies from person to person.

It is essential for teenagers, who are in high school and starting to learn more about themselves, to have a healthy self-image. A teenager’s self-image can be lowered by different outside factors such as bullying from classmates or feeling like they do not fit in. There are many ways to help improve a teenager’s self-image, such as therapy, medication, or a support group.

A person’s self-image is important as it is how they see themselves. It can be positive or negative. A positive self-image will help a person to be confident and have high self-esteem, while a negative self-image will make a person doubt themselves and have low self-esteem. A person’s self-image is not always accurate, as it can be influenced by outside factors such as other people’s opinions or the media.

Let’s use an example of a person who is good at their job. They started a firm out of their garage and have been able to grow it into a well-known business. This individual would be quite self-assured in regards to their capacity to manage and operate their company because they have a high self-esteem. For example, if you were to pick someone who adores the fashion and modeling world, that is another instance of self-image in action.

They would have a high self-image of their physical appearance and would dress and carry themselves in a way that matches that image. On the other hand, someone with a low self-image of their physical appearance might not dress as well or take care of their hygiene as much because they do not believe they are worth it.

Self-image is important because it dictates how we see and treat ourselves. If we have a high self-image, we are more likely to be successful and confident in our abilities. However, if we have a low self-image, we are more likely to give up easily and not try new things. Our self-image is formed through our experiences, what we see in the media, and our interactions with others.

As we go through life, our self-image will change and evolve. For example, when we are in high school, we might have a very different self-image than when we are in college or working. This is because our experiences and interactions with others change as we get older. It is important to keep in mind that our self-image is not set in stone and can be changed if we want it to.

That person has seen a whole bunch of clothing and accessories they considered trendy but could not afford them. This person is very intelligent. Now what could happen is because the person doesn’t have the clothing the industry has created, the self-image of themselves would be damaged because this person feels inadequate for being unfashionable or unsexy enough.

The self-image of a person could also be damaged by something that has happened to them in the past. For example, if someone was bullied in high school because they were different, or because they did not have the latest designer clothes, this could lead to that person having low self-esteem and feeling like they are not good enough.

When it comes to our self-image, it is important to remember that we are all human and that we all have faults and imperfections. It is okay to not be perfect! We should all strive to be the best version of ourselves that we can be, but we should also accept ourselves for who we are. Ourself image should not be based on what other people think of us or what society tells us we should look like.

The last example is a high school student who, despite being funny and intelligent and playing sports, isn’t liked by everyone. They try hard to be accepted but feel like they’re failing. This leads to feelings of distress and eventually drives them suicidal.

What’s going on here? The student has a fixed mindset. They believe that their worth is based on whether or not they’re liked by others. So, when they don’t meet this standard, they feel like a failure.

This is a really dangerous way to think, because it means that your self-worth is completely out of your control. It’s also totally unrealistic. No one is liked by everyone. And even if you are, there will always be someone who doesn’t like you. So, you can never truly meet this standard.

The best way to deal with a fixed mindset is to change the way you think about yourself. Instead of thinking that your worth is based on other people’s opinions, realize that it comes from within. You are the only one who can control how you feel about yourself. So, if you don’t like the way you’re being treated, change it. Don’t let other people’s opinions define you.

The bottom line is that your self-image is what you make of it. If you think you’re a failure, then you’ll probably become one. But if you think you’re awesome, then chances are good that you actually are.

The way you see and feel about yourself is crucial to your success and happiness. Attaining a positive body image is important because there are many aspects of life that are affected by how individuals perceive themselves. We encounter individuals that may have poor or negative self images that may lead to eating disorders and depression. Self-image plays a vital role in the social work field.

It is hard to have confidence if you do not see a positive image when you look in the mirror. This paper will explore how human beings develop their self image, what causes low self esteem and how to attain a healthy body image.

The development of self image begins at a young age. A baby’s first experience with themselves is through their reflection in a mirror. At this stage, they are just beginning to develop a sense of self. As they grow older, they start to form ideas about who they are based on feedback from others. For example, if a child is constantly told that they are stupid, they may begin to believe that about themselves. The way that people perceive themselves is shaped by their experiences and interactions with others.

There are many factors that can contribute to low self esteem. Some of these include physical appearance, weight, height, skin color, and ability. In our society, there is a lot of pressure to conform to certain standards of beauty. This can be seen in the media, where images of perfect bodies are everywhere. It’s no wonder that so many people have poor body image when they are constantly bombarded with images of what they should look like. Another factor that can contribute to low self esteem is bullying. Unfortunately, bullying is a very common experience for many people. Being bullied can make someone feel worthless and alone.

More Essays

• Parents Influence On Body Image Essay
• Media Influence On Body Image Essay
• Essay On Teenage Body Image
• Essay on Positive And Negative Influence On Body Image
• Argumentative Essay On Body Image
• Social Media And Body Image Essay
• How Social Media Affects Body Image Essay
• Media’s Negative Effect On Beauty Image For Women Essay
• Body Image Bad
• Body Image Satisfaction In Women Essay

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Eating Habits, Body Weight, and Self-Esteem Essay

Several academic studies attempted to reveal relationships between eating habits, body weight, and an individual’s self-esteem. For instance, Nagata et al. (2019) studied 14,891 U.S. young adults and found that muscularity-oriented eating disorders were primarily associated with self-perception of being underweight and lower body mass index scores. Cruz-Sáez et al. (2018) surveyed 806 adolescents in Basque Country, Spain, and confirmed that the development of eating disorders was mediated by body dissatisfaction. In addition, negative self-esteem mediated the relationship between body dissatisfaction and negative affect manifested in depression and anxiety (Cruz-Sáez et al., 2018). A meta-analysis of thirteen primary studies by Colmsee et al. (2021) confirmed that low self-esteem acts as a universal risk factor for adverse eating habits and disorders. Lastly, Jebeile et al. (2020) found that obesity increases the risk of eating disorders in adolescence by causing body dissatisfaction, depression, and self-esteem reduction. In these examples, one can see how eating habits, body weight, and self-esteem may act as mutual predictors. Individuals with self-perceived low or high body weight may become dissatisfied with their appearance. Consequently, they may start practicing unhealthy eating habits to solve their problems.

In this regard, the interconnected relationship between eating habits, body weight, and self-esteem may degrade into a vicious circle. Individuals dissatisfied with their bodies may either begin overeating to gain weight and transform it into muscles or start eating less than necessary in order to lose weight. However, extreme eating habits would likely lead to unsatisfactory results and cause additional damage to self-esteem as an individual fails to improve self-perception of their physical appearance. In turn, increasing body dissatisfaction and reduced self-esteem may reinforce harmful eating habits. Without an intervention from trained medical professionals and psychologists, such a situation may quickly spiral out of control, potentially leading to dangerous health consequences. Overall, the complex nature of the dangerous relationship between eating habits, body weight, and an individual’s self-esteem makes this matter particularly interesting for exploration.

Investigating different ethnic groups may offer valuable insight into matters related to eating habits, body weight, and self-esteem issues. For example, Nagata et al. (2019) found that Black Americans are more susceptible to muscularity-oriented eating disorders. In this regard, research in a typical African setting might yield interesting results due to the novelty of the research context. Nagata et al. (2019) made a notable finding specifically relevant to the Black American population, even though Black Americans’ eating habits may be heavily influenced by the socioeconomic and cultural climate of the United States. In this regard, research in a typical African setting may lead to unique findings and provide healthcare professionals with valuable information for promoting healthy eating habits.

In particular, one can hypothesize that perceptions of healthy eating habits, optimal body weight, attractive physical appearance, and self-esteem may significantly differ in a typical African setting, where a more traditional lifestyle is preserved. Therefore, a questionnaire-based research design would make it possible to elicit culture-specific opinions and perceptions from people who maintain a strong connection with African cultural roots. As a result, the research may contribute to the development of culturally-sensitive strategies for promoting healthy eating habits among people of African origin. Given these considerations, data collection via a questionnaire seems a rational and ethically appropriate methodological choice for a typical African setting.

Colmsee, I. S. O., Hank, P., & Bošnjak, M. (2021). Low self-esteem as a risk factor for eating disorders . Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 229 (1), 48-69. Web.

Cruz-Sáez, S., Pascual, A., Wlodarczyk, A., & Echeburúa, E. (2020). The effect of body dissatisfaction on disordered eating: The mediating role of self-esteem and negative affect in male and female adolescents . Journal of Health Psychology , 25 (8), 1098-1108. Web.

Jebeile, H., Lister, N. B., Baur, L. A., Garnett, S. P., & Paxton, S. J. (2021). Eating disorder risk in adolescents with obesity . Obesity Reviews , 22 (5), e13173. Web.

Nagata, J. M., Murray, S. B., Bibbins‐Domingo, K., Garber, A. K., Mitchison, D., & Griffiths, S. (2019). Predictors of muscularity‐oriented disordered eating behaviors in U.S. young adults: A prospective cohort study . International Journal of Eating Disorders , 52 (12), 1380-1388. Web.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 30). Eating Habits, Body Weight, and Self-Esteem. https://ivypanda.com/essays/eating-habits-body-weight-and-self-esteem/

"Eating Habits, Body Weight, and Self-Esteem." IvyPanda , 30 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/eating-habits-body-weight-and-self-esteem/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Eating Habits, Body Weight, and Self-Esteem'. 30 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Eating Habits, Body Weight, and Self-Esteem." March 30, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/eating-habits-body-weight-and-self-esteem/.

1. IvyPanda . "Eating Habits, Body Weight, and Self-Esteem." March 30, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/eating-habits-body-weight-and-self-esteem/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Eating Habits, Body Weight, and Self-Esteem." March 30, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/eating-habits-body-weight-and-self-esteem/.

• Discussion of Body Image Concerns Problem
• The “Thelma & Louise” Film by Ridley Scott
• Construction of White Male Violence in Advertising
• Black Female Athlete: The Influence of Nicola Adams
• Mediated Social Relationships: Living Alone
• Self-Perception in Mother-Child Conversations
• Self-Perception as a Student: Powerful or Powerless?
• Computer Mediated Communication Enhance or Inhibit
• Codes of Ethics for Mediated Communication Field
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders
• Nutrition and Rosacea: Common Triggers and Dietary Role
• Identifying Malnutrition: Why Is It Important?
• Beneficial Health Effects of Cumin Spices
• Intermittent Fasting as Way of Obesity Management
• Nutrition Assessment: Diagnosis and Care Plan

Why is self-esteem important for teenagers?

While it can be normal for a teenager to lack confidence at times, people with self-esteem issues normally view themselves differently to how others view them.

Low self-esteem can be particularly hard for young people especially when they’re doing things like starting high school or work, and forming new friendships and relationships. Keep reading to understand self-esteem issues that may come up for your teenager and ways to help your child feel better about themselves and their capabilities.

This can help if you:

suspect your child is suffering from low self-esteem

want to learn how to build your child’s self-esteem

would like to identify the causes of your child’s low self-esteem.

Why your child’s self-esteem is important

Positive self-esteem for teens is important as it allows them to try new things, take healthy risks and solve problems. In turn, their learning and development will be productive and will set them up for a healthy and positive future. A young person with healthy self-esteem is more likely to display positive behavioural characteristics, such as:

acting independent and mature

taking pride in their accomplishments/acheivements

accepting frustration and dealing with it responsibly

trying new things and challenges

helping others when possible

How can low self-esteem affect my child?

When someone has low self-esteem they tend to avoid situations where they think there’s risk of failure, embarrassment or making mistakes. These can involve school work, making friends, and trying new activities, which are all important parts of a healthy teenage life.

If the low self-esteem is not identified and treated, then it can lead to problems such as:

relationship troubles or difficulty making friends

-negative moods such as feeling sad, anxious, ashamed or angry

low motivation

poor body image

earlier sexual activity

drinking alcohol and/or taking drugs to feel better

What can cause low self-esteem?

How a person feels about themselves is a result of their experiences and how they deal with situations. The most common causes of low self-esteem in teenagers are:

unsupportive parents, carers or others that play an influential role in their life

friends who are bad influences

stressful life events such as divorce or moving houses

trauma or abuse

poor performance at school or unrealistic goals

mood disorders such as depression

bullying or loneliness

ongoing medical issues

Signs of low self-esteem

A child with low self-esteem will more than likely be having negative thoughts about their worth and value as a person. Some general signs that your child has low self-esteem include:

avoiding new things and not taking up opportunities

feeling unloved and unwanted

blaming others for their own mistakes

-not being able to deal with normal levels of frustration

-negative self-talk and comparisons to others

fear of failure or embarrassment

difficulty making friends

low levels of motivation and interest

can’t take compliments and shows mixed feelings of anxiety or stress.

There are things you can do to support your child to have positive self-esteem, but it’s also important to remember that teenage self-esteem develops and changes quite frequently overtime. If your child doesn’t show signs of positive self-esteem immediately, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing something wrong!