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Feature Articles: Body Image
Feeling Better About Your Body Promotes a Healthier LifestyleLinda Rellergert, Nutrition Specialist in St.
Charles County
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What you think about your body has a tremendous impact on your
self-esteem, your desire to socialize and your relationships
with other people. Body image also has a great impact on eating
and activity patterns.
Body self-criticism does not lead to a healthy lifestyle
Being critical of your body will not lead to sustained, healthy
eating and regular physical activity habits. Constant thoughts
and feelings of dislike or disgust with your body leads to short
term extremes like dieting, restricting food, rigid exercise
programs and the like. These techniques don't result in a
permanent healthier lifestyle. Instead, they are likely to
backfire and lead to a dislike of healthful eating and physical
activity. To achieve a permanent change in eating and physical
activity habits, it is vital that you stop body self-criticism.
Body appreciation is an act of self-value
Acquiring a kinder view of your body is no easy task at a time
when the only popular images of beauty are very young and thin.
However, it will be almost impossible to make positive long-term
health and lifestyle changes unless you value and appreciate
your body.
Think of an object that is very valuable to you. It could be
a special gift or prized family heirloom. How do you care for
this object? Do you handle it carefully? Perhaps it sits in a
prominent place in your home, artfully displayed so visitors to
your home will notice and admire it.
Now think how you might treat your body if you also looked at
it as important and valuable. You would take care of it by
feeding it well, making sure it had enough activity to keep it
strong, and had regular health care. You would protect it by
allowing it to be touched only with respect and gentleness, by
wearing your seatbelt or by not smoking. You would show it to
its best advantage by wearing attractive, comfortable shoes and
clothes. You would praise it and admire it. When you view your
body as valuable, you begin to see that you must care for it,
rather than chastise or belittle it.
Frances Berg writes in Women Afraid to Eat, "You're
okay just as you are. You're a unique person, capable and
loveable, with special talents and traits, and this is a
marvelous thing. No need to work on perfecting yourself. In
fact, it can be self-defeating. It keeps a person locked in the
anticipation trap, waiting and hoping to be 'better.'"
We actually have less control over the size and shape of our
bodies than most of us think. Genetics determine height,
proportion, and overall shape. Each of us has an internal
set-point that greatly influences body size and weight. These
things cannot be changed.
What can be changed is your attitude toward your body. Focus your energies on the things that really matter, and on being as healthy as you can be. People who are comfortable with themselves, confident and loving, are the truly beautiful people.
Based in part on material written by Vera M Nichols, Nutrition Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Boone County.
Last update: Wednesday, August 30, 2006
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