We only have one body, so it is important to accept and embrace the skin we’re in. Social media and dieting trends have been the source of body dysmorphia and eating disorders in our society. In modern times, celebrities and influencers have openly rejected this overly-filtered, photoshopped media landscape.
Body positivity is a movement that promotes acceptance of all bodies, regardless of size, shape, skin tone, gender, and physical abilities. In a study published in the December 2019 issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, body dissatisfaction is closely associated with depression, use of performance-enhancing substances, and low self-esteem.
Loving Your Body
According to a 2016 study by the International Journal of Eating Disorders, even brief exposure to media messages portraying an “ideal physique” was linked to increased body image concerns and eating disorder symptoms. The same research also found that body dissatisfaction is associated with adolescents’ poor self-esteem regardless of gender, age, weight, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
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Brands that have been problematic before for not being inclusive of different body types, gender, and race have since adopted more inclusive campaigns. For example, Victoria’s Secret was criticized for its lack of body inclusivity. Then, in 2021, they underwent a rebranding by replacing their “Angels” with the “VS Collective.”
Deciding not to compare yourself to others and celebrating your body is the way to live a body-positive mindset. If you start at a place of self-love, you can achieve this. In a world where media and the internet can be so cruel and judgmental, being sure of yourself and your values as an individual can turn that negativity into static.
The bar is set high on how we are supposed to live our lives and how we are supposed to look while doing it. A successful or happy life isn’t solely based on the physical or material. We have more to offer ourselves, our loved ones, and the world.