Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsChallenges and Associated ConditionsWhat Affects Body Image?Improving Body ImageProfessional HelpAdditional Resources for LGBTQ+ People
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Challenges and Associated Conditions
What Affects Body Image?
Improving Body Image
Professional Help
Additional Resources for LGBTQ+ People
Body image refers to how a person sees their body and how they feel about it.It includes two main dimensions: Body percept or body perception, which involves the mental picture a person forms of how they look,and body concept, which refers to the thoughts and emotions you associate with your physical appearance.
A negative body image, such as fixating on perceived physical flaws or constantly comparing oneself to others, can affect mental and emotional well-being, as well as relationships andself-esteem. It can also reflect underlying mental health conditions.
Body Image Challenges and Associated Conditions
Body image challenges can appear in various forms. For example, your self-perception may not match reality, or you may engage in negative “self-talk” (i.e., telling yourself negative things about your physical appearance). Others may try to meet unrealistic beauty standards or worry frequently about how others perceive their body.
There are several mental health conditions associated with body image issues, including:
Many different factors can have an impact on body image, including:
Body Image and Social Media
How to Improve Body Image Through Self-Care
Most of us have negative thoughts about our bodies from time to time. Here are a few ways you can start to improve your body image through self-care:
How to Improve Body Image With a Professional
If your body image challenges persist or get worse, consider reaching out to a mental healthcare provider for professional help.
Talk therapy, such ascognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT), may help to address and improve body image-related concerns. CBT involves identifying negative or distorted patterns of thinking and behavior, which may allow you to shift the direction of your thoughts about your body over time.
Your provider can also diagnose you with any related mental health condition, if necessary and applicable. If you do have an underlying condition, such as body dysmorphic disorder, your healthcare provider might also prescribe medications like anti-anxiety drugs or antidepressants.People with eating disorders might also need more intensive care, including nutrition counseling or even inpatient treatment.
If you identify as queer or trans and have concerns about your body image, it may be helpful to seek out an LGBTQ+-affirming therapist to discuss your feelings. Other mental health resources for LBGTQ+ people include:
Summary
Body image involves how we mentally picture our bodies and how we feel about our appearance. Several mental health conditions, such as eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, depression, and anxiety, are associated with a negative or distorted body image. Risk factors such as low self-esteem, relationship problems, past trauma, and personality traits (like perfectionism and neuroticism) can increase your chance of developing body image challenges at some point in your lifetime.
If you are wrestling with negative thoughts about your body size, weight, or appearance, reach out to a mental healthcare provider. Through approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, they can help you identify negative thoughts and behavioral patterns. Taking care of yourself holistically is also important to boost your overall self-esteem and confidence.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Body image.American Psychological Association.Body percept.American Psychological Association.Body concept.MedlinePlus.Eating disorders.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Media and body image.National Health Service.Body dysmorphic disorder.Satghare P, Mahesh MV, Abdin E, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.The relative associations of body image dissatisfaction among psychiatric out-patients in Singapore.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(24):5162. doi:10.3390/ijerph16245162Zartaloudi A, Christopoulos D, Kelesi M, et al.Body image, social physique anxiety levels and self-esteem among adults participating in physical activity programs.Diseases. 2023;11(2):66. doi:10.3390/diseases11020066Sandoval CM, Romano KA, Heron KE, et al.Associations between body dissatisfaction and relationship functioning among same-sex female couples: an actor-partner interdependence model.J Fam Psychol. 2022;36(5):780-790. doi:10.1037/fam0000945Soohinda G, Mishra D, Sampath H, Dutta S.Body dissatisfaction and its relation to Big Five personality factors and self-esteem in young adult college women in India.Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(4):400-404. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_367_18Bödicker C, Reinckens J, Höfler M, Hoyer J.Is childhood maltreatment associated with body image disturbances in adulthood? A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2021;15(3):523-538. doi:10.1007/s40653-021-00379-5American Psychological Association.Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults.MedlinePlus.Gender dysphoria.Muzi L, Nardelli N, Naticchioni G, et al.Body uneasiness and dissatisfaction among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual persons.Sex Res Social Policy. 2023:1-16. doi:10.1007/s13178-023-00805-3Human Rights Campaign.Mental health resources in the LGBTQ+ community.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Body image.American Psychological Association.Body percept.American Psychological Association.Body concept.MedlinePlus.Eating disorders.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Media and body image.National Health Service.Body dysmorphic disorder.Satghare P, Mahesh MV, Abdin E, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.The relative associations of body image dissatisfaction among psychiatric out-patients in Singapore.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(24):5162. doi:10.3390/ijerph16245162Zartaloudi A, Christopoulos D, Kelesi M, et al.Body image, social physique anxiety levels and self-esteem among adults participating in physical activity programs.Diseases. 2023;11(2):66. doi:10.3390/diseases11020066Sandoval CM, Romano KA, Heron KE, et al.Associations between body dissatisfaction and relationship functioning among same-sex female couples: an actor-partner interdependence model.J Fam Psychol. 2022;36(5):780-790. doi:10.1037/fam0000945Soohinda G, Mishra D, Sampath H, Dutta S.Body dissatisfaction and its relation to Big Five personality factors and self-esteem in young adult college women in India.Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(4):400-404. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_367_18Bödicker C, Reinckens J, Höfler M, Hoyer J.Is childhood maltreatment associated with body image disturbances in adulthood? A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2021;15(3):523-538. doi:10.1007/s40653-021-00379-5American Psychological Association.Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults.MedlinePlus.Gender dysphoria.Muzi L, Nardelli N, Naticchioni G, et al.Body uneasiness and dissatisfaction among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual persons.Sex Res Social Policy. 2023:1-16. doi:10.1007/s13178-023-00805-3Human Rights Campaign.Mental health resources in the LGBTQ+ community.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.Body image.American Psychological Association.Body percept.American Psychological Association.Body concept.MedlinePlus.Eating disorders.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Media and body image.National Health Service.Body dysmorphic disorder.Satghare P, Mahesh MV, Abdin E, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.The relative associations of body image dissatisfaction among psychiatric out-patients in Singapore.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(24):5162. doi:10.3390/ijerph16245162Zartaloudi A, Christopoulos D, Kelesi M, et al.Body image, social physique anxiety levels and self-esteem among adults participating in physical activity programs.Diseases. 2023;11(2):66. doi:10.3390/diseases11020066Sandoval CM, Romano KA, Heron KE, et al.Associations between body dissatisfaction and relationship functioning among same-sex female couples: an actor-partner interdependence model.J Fam Psychol. 2022;36(5):780-790. doi:10.1037/fam0000945Soohinda G, Mishra D, Sampath H, Dutta S.Body dissatisfaction and its relation to Big Five personality factors and self-esteem in young adult college women in India.Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(4):400-404. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_367_18Bödicker C, Reinckens J, Höfler M, Hoyer J.Is childhood maltreatment associated with body image disturbances in adulthood? A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2021;15(3):523-538. doi:10.1007/s40653-021-00379-5American Psychological Association.Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults.MedlinePlus.Gender dysphoria.Muzi L, Nardelli N, Naticchioni G, et al.Body uneasiness and dissatisfaction among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual persons.Sex Res Social Policy. 2023:1-16. doi:10.1007/s13178-023-00805-3Human Rights Campaign.Mental health resources in the LGBTQ+ community.
American Psychological Association.Body image.
American Psychological Association.Body percept.
American Psychological Association.Body concept.
MedlinePlus.Eating disorders.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Media and body image.
National Health Service.Body dysmorphic disorder.
Satghare P, Mahesh MV, Abdin E, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.The relative associations of body image dissatisfaction among psychiatric out-patients in Singapore.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(24):5162. doi:10.3390/ijerph16245162
Zartaloudi A, Christopoulos D, Kelesi M, et al.Body image, social physique anxiety levels and self-esteem among adults participating in physical activity programs.Diseases. 2023;11(2):66. doi:10.3390/diseases11020066
Sandoval CM, Romano KA, Heron KE, et al.Associations between body dissatisfaction and relationship functioning among same-sex female couples: an actor-partner interdependence model.J Fam Psychol. 2022;36(5):780-790. doi:10.1037/fam0000945
Soohinda G, Mishra D, Sampath H, Dutta S.Body dissatisfaction and its relation to Big Five personality factors and self-esteem in young adult college women in India.Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(4):400-404. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_367_18
Bödicker C, Reinckens J, Höfler M, Hoyer J.Is childhood maltreatment associated with body image disturbances in adulthood? A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2021;15(3):523-538. doi:10.1007/s40653-021-00379-5
American Psychological Association.Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults.
MedlinePlus.Gender dysphoria.
Muzi L, Nardelli N, Naticchioni G, et al.Body uneasiness and dissatisfaction among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual persons.Sex Res Social Policy. 2023:1-16. doi:10.1007/s13178-023-00805-3
Human Rights Campaign.Mental health resources in the LGBTQ+ community.
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