It seems like no matter where we go, we are surrounded by products and messages that promote the idea that thin is beautiful.
From celebrities advocating different diets and workout regimes to the body-shaming culture that is present on social media to companies that only use thin models for their advertisements, this harmful message about the thin ideal is everywhere.
However, even though these messages about diet culture and thinness are prevalent, they are also harmful and can lead to serious problems like body image issues and eating disorders.
If we want to avoid buying into diet culture and learn to accept our bodies as they are, we need to actively seek out ways to live a body-positive lifestyle:
Here are a few tips for embracing body positivity:
Learn about marketing strategies and industry secrets
While this tip might seem like it’s out of place, it is one of the best ways to start on the path toward body-positivity.
With fashion magazines, Instagram ads, and television commercials all pushing for or demonstrating the need to be thin, it can be hard to escape this harmful messaging.
Even though these media messages are difficult (or even impossible) to avoid, learning about the strategies that they use to send these advertisements and sell products will prevent you from buying into these messages.
Consider some of these facts the next time you see ads and magazines glorifying thinness or promoting diet culture:
Magazines push thinness for profit: Magazines know that they will get more money from headlines that try to convince you that something is wrong with your weight or the way your body looks. “Get your summer body by June! 9 ways to trim belly fat!” will sell more copies than headlines about eating disorders.
Images are retouched: When you see ads, whether they are online or in magazines, the images are digitally edited in order to remove blemishes, trim stomachs, remove necklines, and present an idealized- and often unattainable- image.
Movies use body doubles: In many movies, as well as tv shows and commercials, actresses and actors have body doubles for certain scenes that help them portray a certain image.
Celebrity workouts are unmanageable: In order to obtain their seemingly “perfect” bodies, celebrities have to dedicate a significant portion of each day to working out with professional trainers. For instance, to get in shape for her role as Captain Marvel, actress Brie Larson followed a strict diet and worked out for as many as 4 ½ hours every day. When you see celebrities with incredibly thin and toned bodies in movies, tv shows, and advertisements, remember that this is often the result of extreme workout regimes.
When you understand information about the ways the media and marketing industries work, you will be a lot less likely to fall for these body image traps.
Audit your social media accounts
While social media can be a powerful tool to help you connect and engage with others, it can also contribute to body image issues. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 20% of teens feel worse about themselves after using social media.
The next time you use Instagram or any other social media platform, do the following to audit your social media accounts:
Look through your posts and photos and see whether you pose in a certain way that helps promote a specific body ideal
Note how frequently you compare your body to other people’s bodies in their posts
See how many times you have untagged yourself from photos because you did not like the way your body looked
Unfollow any brands, influencers, or celebrities that try to push dieting tips or anything else that promotes a specific body type
Check and see if you have any recent posts that emphasize your appearance?
Ask yourself if the comments you leave on your friends’ posts are typically geared toward their appearances
By asking yourself these questions and following these steps, you can get a better idea of how social media is impacting your body image so that you can make changes that will minimize its impact on your life.
Give yourself compliments
This might sound silly, but when it comes to challenging the thin ideal and maintaining a positive body image, it is a step in the right direction.
Whether your compliment is about a part of your body that you like or about some of your best qualities as an individual, learning to appreciate yourself will remind you that there is more to life than trying to be thin.
What do you like about yourself?
Are you always empathetic towards others?
Do you think you have pretty eyes or a nice smile?
Do you allow compassion and kindness to guide your conversations?
Are you good at solving problems quickly?
Do you excel in a particular hobby, sport, or extracurricular activity?
By recognizing your strengths and thinking positively about yourself, you will be able to embrace body positivity.