Body Image

By Arie Puji Lestari, 0906629246

Class EFN C, Group II

Body image is . . .

• How you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in
your mind.
• What you believe about your own appearance (including your memories,
assumptions, and generalizations).
• How you feel about your body, including your height, shape, and weight.
• How you sense and control your body as you move.
• How you feel in your body, not just about your body.

Negative body image is . . . Positive body image is . . .

– A distorted perception of your shape, you
perceive parts of your body unlike they
really are.
– You are convinced that only other people
are attractive and that your body size or
shape is a sign of personal failure.
– You feel ashamed, self-conscious, and
anxious about your body.
– You feel uncomfortable and awkward in
your body.
+ A clear, true perception of your shape,
you see the various parts of your body as
they really are.
+ You celebrate and appreciate your natural
body shape and you understand that a
person’s physical appearance says very
little about their character and value as a
person.
+ You feel proud and accepting of your
unique body and refuse to spend an
unreasonable amount of time worrying
about food, weight, and calories.
+ You feel comfortable and confident in
your body.
Improve Your Body Image..!

Some people think they need to change how they look or act to feel good about
themselves. But actually all you need to do is change the way you see your body and
how you think about yourself.

The first thing to do is recognize that your body is your own, no matter what shape,
size, or color it comes in. If you're very worried about your weight or size, check with
your doctor to verify that things are OK. But it's no one's business but your own what
your body is like, you have to be happy with yourself.

Next, identify which aspects of your appearance you can realistically change and which
you can't. Everyone has things about themselves that they can't change and need to
accept. Like their height, for example, or their shoe size.

If there are things about yourself that you want to change and can, do this by making
goals for yourself. For example, if you want to get fit, make a plan to exercise everyday
and eat nutritious foods. Then keep track of your progress until you reach your goal.
Meeting a challenge you set for yourself is a great way to boost self-esteem!

When you hear negative comments coming from within yourself, tell yourself to stop.
Try building your self-esteem by giving yourself three compliments every day. While
you're at it, every evening list three things in your day that really gave you pleasure. It
can be anything from the way the sun felt on your face, the sound of your favorite band,
or the way someone laughed at your jokes. By focusing on the good things you do and
the positive aspects of your life, you can change how you feel about yourself.
Conclusion . . .

People with negative body image have a greater likelihood of developing an eating
disorder and are more likely to suffer from feelings of depression, isolation, low self-
esteem, and obsessions with weight loss. We all may have our days when we feel
awkward or uncomfortable in our bodies, but the key to developing positive body image
is to recognize and respect our natural shape and learn to overpower those negative
thoughts and feelings with positive, affirming, and accepting ones.

If you have a positive body image, you probably like and accept yourself the way you
are. This healthy attitude allows you to explore other aspects of growing up, such as
developing good friendships, growing more independent from your parents, and
challenging yourself physically and mentally. Developing these parts of yourself can
help boost your self-esteem too.

Accept yourself -- Accept your body.

Think highly of yourself because the world takes you at your own estimate. -- Author
Unknown

Sources:

Anonymous. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/body+image. (access on 15th

February 2011, at 02.16 PM)

Anonymous. “Body Image affects your esteem”. http://www.more-

selfesteem.com/bodyimage.htm. (access on 15th February 2011, at 02.33 PM)

Anonymous. “Why Are Self-Esteem and Body Image Important?”.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/body_image/body_image.html#. (access on
15th February 2011, at 02.09 PM)

Sally McGraw. “How to Be a Body Image Role Model”.

http://www.alreadypretty.com/2010/12/how-to-be-a-body-image-role-
model.html. (access on 15th February 2011, at 02.16 PM)