Body Image and its Implications on Mental Health
by Dr. Eliezer Bernard Owusu Ntim
Every individual creates a mental representation of themselves which may bear a relation to how they appear. This is known as Body Image. The Medical News Today defines body image as “how any individual sees their own body and how attractive they feel themselves to be”(1).
Many people have concerns about their body image. Their concerns usually hover around their weight, skin, hair, and shape. Body image is the mental representation one creates which may have resulted from the attitudes of one's parents and early experiences. The severest form of poor body image is known as body dysmorphic disorder. This is where dissatisfaction over a slight defect in appearance becomes a severe obsession. The Mayo Clinic refers to Body Dysmorphic Disorder as "a mental health disorder in which you can't stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance"(2). However, body image goes beyond what we see in the mirror. It spans across our beliefs, experiences, and generalizations. A person's body image will range from positive, to negative dissatisfaction with their body.
Who suffers from distortion? Research has indicated that young children can display excess concern about their body weights. Thoughts and opinions about one's body start forming as early as 3 years of age. However, most children outgrow these worries. Parents can be uneasy about raising the issue of their child being overweight because they feel they might hurt their child's feelings, damage his/her self-esteem or make food and eating a 'big issue'.
Peer pressure and self-consciousness can also contribute to the exaggeration of concerns about body appearance. This can raise distorted perspectives and project them as real to people from the pre-teenage years through to adulthood. The most radical result of this body dysmorphia is anorexia, also known as undernutrition. About 2% of the female population aged 16 to 32 years are predisposed to this disorder.
In the midst of body image angst, many people remain wired in a world where physical looks take primacy. The constant influx of media images can cause people to feel uncomfortable about their bodies. This leads to distress and ill-health. It can also affect work, social life, and other domains of life including relationships.
To put body image back into perspective, experts suggest that you curb the use of social media and platforms where visitors are constantly reminded of the outsize value placed on looks and body image. It is possible for a person to have a better view of their body no matter what it looks like.
Having a positive body image includes accepting and appreciating the whole of one's body and being confident in how it looks. Research suggests that focusing on building self-confidence and a positive body image can help reduce obesity and achieve a wider health goal.
A person with a positive body image will feel confident in their appearance and in what their body can do. If one has distortions in their body appearance, it might be beneficial to see a mental health professional. They can help a person explore the reasons for these concerns and find ways to resolve them.
“The human body is the best work of art.”
― Jess C. Scott
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353938
See also: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/body-image%3famp