What the Experts Say II. - The influence of body image on mental health

The British Psychological Society. (2019). The influence of body image on mental health | BPS. The British Psychological Society. https://www.bps.org.uk/blogs/guest/influence-body-image-mental-health

 Holder of the Distinguished Contributions to Psychology Education Award Professor Carolyn Mair Ph.D. discusses how various factors influence our body confidence and body image and how this might affect our mental wellbeing.

According to the professor, body image is a complicated and diverse construct in which the shape and size of the body are considered. Because the individual's body shape and weight are assumed to be under one´s control, they are often regarded as their responsibility. Body image issues can be a cause of psychological concerns such as lower quality of life, emotional stress, and harmful behaviors including eating disorders.

Today´s media constantly post images of women or men with idealized and usually edited bodies. Thin ideal, youthfulness, and perfection are all women's attributes. For men, the emphasis is on muscles, a flat stomach, skinny but not too skinny legs, and a v-shaped body.  And while these unrealistic beauty standards have become the measure by which many of us judge ourselves, they remain out of reach for the majority of people.

 As a consequence, many people waste an excessive amount of time and money on cosmetic products and dieting supplements in order to achieve what is often impossible.