Body Positivity and Self-Acceptance

Improving Body Image

• People with negative body image often hold extreme standards for attractiveness, which can lead to unrealistic expectations.
• Unrealistic standards of beauty can be challenged by promoting body positivity and celebrating diverse body types.

"Attractiveness" Standards

• Unrealistic "attractiveness" standards include:
  • Being thin
  • Feeling fat equals being fat
  • Striving to be thin
  • Presence of stretch marks means not being good enough
  • Need for clear skin and perfect hair
  • Need to punish oneself for not having perfect hair

Healthy Standards

• Healthy standards promote self-acceptance and self-love, including:
  • Being beautiful just the way you are
  • Feeling fat does not equal being fat
  • Loving your body at all times
  • Stretch marks being a normal part of life
  • Unique skin and hair being acceptable

Critically Viewing Media

• To promote a positive body image, it's essential to:
  • Limit time spent on media that promotes unrealistic beauty standards
  • Choose media that celebrates diversity and promotes self-confidence
  • Avoid media that makes you feel bad about yourself
  • Be aware of digitally altered images and airbrushed models
  • Ask questions about the media you consume, such as:
    • Are images retouched to present an unrealistic image?
    • Do models represent the average person?
    • Do organizations promote unrealistic body standards?

Health in the Media

• Editing and airbrushing media images can present misleading and unrealistic beauty standards.
• Some companies are moving away from altered images and promoting realistic beauty standards.
• Examples of companies promoting realistic images include:
  • Fashion magazines no longer altering face shapes of models
  • US store brand banning photo manipulation
  • Lingerie company featuring un-retouched models' freckles

Valuing Your Whole Self

• Valuing your whole self can help improve body image, including:
  • Focusing on what your body can do, not just its appearance
  • Recognizing your strengths and good qualities
  • Taking care of yourself through nutritious food, physical activity, and sleep
  • Practicing self-compassion and self-acceptance

Negative Self-Talk

• Negative self-talk can include:
  • Criticizing your body
  • Focusing on flaws
  • Comparing yourself to others
• Examples of negative self-talk include:
  • "I'll never look like that influencer"
  • "I hate my body"
  • "I look so ugly in these photos"

Body Compassion

• Practicing body compassion can help improve body image, including:
  • Reframing negative thoughts into positive, accepting thoughts
  • Focusing on what you like about yourself
  • Practicing self-kindness and self-acceptance
• Examples of body compassion include:
  • "This is the body I was born with, and it's beautiful"
  • "My favorite thing about my body today is my freckles"
  • "I love my legs and where they can take me"

Avoiding Negative Influences

• To avoid negative influences, it's essential to:
  • Respond directly to hurtful comments
  • Ignore negative comments
  • Seek support from others
  • Advocate for positive body image

Government Advocacy for Positive Body Image

• Governments and organizations are taking steps to address unrealistic beauty standards, including:
  • Spain and Italy requiring models to have a healthy BMI
  • Israel banning the use of extremely thin models
  • France requiring labeling of retouched photographs