Body image is a
person's perception of his or her physical appearance. A person with a poor body
image will perceive their own body as being unattractive or even repulsive to
others. While a person with good body image, or positive "body acceptance", will
either see themselves as attractive to others, or will at least accept it as is.
Even though the numbers on the scale
say that her weight has gone down, she doesn't see it when she looks
in the mirror.
Self esteem is how “you” feel about yourself,
not what others think. Your self esteem is more than likely a result of years
of conditioning, insults never forgot how you’ve compared yourself to others whether
in the real world or those figures grazing the fashion pages.
Individuals
with an eating disorder are very dissatisfied with their bodies and have extreme
concerns with their body weight and shape - which are the key factors for them
in determing how they feel about themselves. Their self esteem is very low and
directly related to the way their body looks and how much they weigh.
How often do you look in the mirror
and say "If I could just lose a few pounds, then I would be happy"?
Some sufferers with
an eating disorder assume there is something wrong with their bodies when they
cannot fit into some "standard" size and others will reject a pair of jeans simply
because they won't wear a particular size.
It is common that someone suffering
with anorexia has low self-esteem which can quickly lead to a negative body image
of oneself. An anorexic may see another person and think "I wish I was as skinny
as her" and in reality, may actually be thinner. They don't see themselves as
thin and have an inaccurate perception of their body and cannot see their own
good traits, especially in comparison to others, because of the low self-esteem
they have of themselves. A person with anorexia can look in the mirror and actually
see a fat person.
Individuals with bulimia are very dissatisfied
with their bodies and have extreme concerns with their body weight and shape -
which are the key factors for them in determing how they feel about themselves.
Their self esteem is very low and directly related to the way their body looks
and how much they weigh.
"Black women don't have the same
body image problems as white women. They are proud of their bodies. Black men
love big butts." - Tyra Banks
"Some days
I would look at my reflection and see garbage, and I guess I was worried about
the size of my breasts for a long time. But now I think I have finally reached
an age where I have accepted myself for who I am" — Shakira
"For
me, it might sound cliche, but beauty for me really does start on the inside.
It's like a state of mind, a state of love if you will. Then, whatever you can
do on the outside is all like a bonus." — Queen Latifah
"It's
important to teach people not to feel like they have to fit a certain body image.
Overcoming an eating disorder myself has made me prouder than selling millions
of albums." — Paula Abdul
"People at the
record label were telling me that I needed to lose weight. The song [In This
Skin] is saying that I am worthy to feel beautiful in my skin. It's something
that every woman experiences in one way or another." — Jessica Simpson
(Click here to read the lyrics of "In
This Skin")
"I've been told that if I lose weight
I'd have more work, but I refuse to submit myself to Hollywood standards. To the
rest of the world I am slim and I like the way I am." — Liv Tyler
"A
lot of these girls who spend so much time trying to be skinny - it's boring and
they don't make people feel good about themselves... I refuse to become part of
this perfect-body syndrome. I like my body. It looks good on-screen, and it's
not because it's perfect." — Salma Hayek
"I have
a boy's body. I would prefer to have more curves because I think that's more beautiful.
I would much rather have J. Lo's body than mine." ... "I'd much prefer to have
curves. My daughter is 5ft 2in and curvy - she's everything I wanted to be."
... "I would love to have boobs and a butt like Jennifer Lopez but I'm not having
surgery so there it is."... "But now I feel bad because I think it's really
important that we all embrace what we are. It's like, 'Shut up Nicole and stop
indulging yourself.'" - Nicole Kidman
"In
every movie they want you to look as thin as you can look. In 'Selena', it was
the other way around: 'How can we shoot her butt so it looks like Selena's?'"
... "Beauty is only skin deep. I think what's really important is finding a balance
of mind, body and spirit. Somebody said to me not too long ago, 'Until you're
twenty, you have the face you are born with, and after that you have the face
you deserve', and I really loved that - the idea that you wear who you are on
your face." - Jennifer Lopez
"Be yourself, and
that will make you more beautiful than anything." — Jamie-Lynn Sigler
"It's so wrong to try and stifle womanly curves, it shouldn't
be promoted. This unhealthy look should be abandoned." — Mischa Barton
"Everyone
in Hollywood is so damn skinny. You constantly feel you're not skinny enough.
But I'm never going to be a rail." — Scarlett Johansson
"I
don't think we ever feel like we're good enough. We don't feel like we're thin
enough or pretty enough or smart enough or work hard enough. And we are good enough." —
Kristy Alley
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
(BDD), a serious disorder that is growing fast, is a preoccupation with an imagined
physical defect in appearance or a vastly exaggerated concern about a minimal
defect.
People that suffer from BDD not only dislike some
aspect of how they look, they're preoccupied severely with it. Most get to the
point where it is very hard to go outside or sit down comfortably, or go to work
and talk to others, without thinking the self-degrading thoughts about their flaws.
The thoughts soon over take the person's mind and it is all he/she can think about.
The individual’s obsessive concern most often is concerned
with facial features, hair, odor, body weight and shape, perceived lack of muscles,
facial blemishes and fo forth. The disorder often begins in adolescence, tends
to become chronic and leads to a great deal of internal suffering.
The
person suffering from body dysmorphic disorder may fear ridicule in social situations.
Body dysmorphic disorder may limit friendships and obsessive ruminations about
appearance may make it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork.
Body
dysmorphic disorder tends to be chronic and can lead to social isolation, school
dropout, unnecessary plastic surgery, eating disorders, steroid abuse, major depression,
and in some cases can even lead to suicide.
BDD is treatable
and begins with an evaluation by a mental health care provider.
Statistics
& Interesting Facts on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
According
to researchers, BDD affectsan estimated 1% to 2% of Americans (approximately 4
million adults), and strikes males and females equally. About 70 % of the time,
people develop BDD before the age of eighteen.
BUT.. reliable
statistics regarding body dysmorphic disorder do not exist, as patients cover
up very often and are too ashamed and afraid to seek professional help.
Rates
of body dysmorphic disorder are about equal in men and women, but does it
does manifest differently in the sexes: Women are more likely to worry about their
hips and their weight, whereas men are more likely to worry about being scrawny.
Both worry about hair, but women are most likely to worry they have too much body
hair, men don’t worry about that. Women are more likely than men to seek cosmetic
surgery.
How long has it been around? ... In one sense,
the disorder sounds peculiarly modern, a product of our appearance-obsessed media
age. BUT... there are descriptions from over 100 years ago of patients who struggled
with BDD - but back then it did not have a name.
Body Dysmporphic
Disroder is treatable and you can improve your situation!
If
you suffer from severe BDD you are most likley going to need medication and therapy
is adviceable. If you have milder BDD, you could probably go with either.
The
longer you wait to seek treatment, the more difficult it is to treat as the thought
patterns and habits that have been formed over the years are much deeper entrenched.
Unfortunatley, it may take years before someone with BDD is ready to volunteer
that there are these symptoms. It may therefore take years before the disorder
is diagnosed.
Someone
with an eating disorder may also show signs of body dysmorphia, especially if
there are signs of body image disparagement for a weight-related body site (waist,
hips, thighs). The presence of BDD with a site that is non-weight-related (nose,
ears) usually indicates that there is no co-occurring eating disorder. However,
if the BDD site of concern is a weight-related site, then an assessment for an
eating disorder should be undertaken with a focus on the usual eating disordered
symptoms of excessive dieting, weight loss, purging, and feelings of loss of control
surrounding food.
Famous
People/Celebrities with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
The following women are very courageous
to talk about their disorder and I'd like to thank them for their honesty,
courage and openness.
Actress Uma Thurman
('Kill Bill', 'Pulp Fiction') admits to having Body Dysmorphic Disorder, which
she developed after giving birth to her daughter. Uma, who is also the face of
Lancome makeup, can't help feeling she is 'overweight' - even though she is very
slim. "Ever since I had a baby I've had that body dysmorphic disorder." -
"Uma believes she's fat - and she's so thin", says actress pal Natasha Richardson.
"I don't know where it comes from, but it's real."
The models we see in magazines are not real
- the pictures have been airbrushed (digitally removing cellulite, skin folds,
wrinkles, lines, freckles and blemishes, evening out uneven skin tone, making
hips smaller and legs longer - just to mention a few). No one, not even models,
looks that good without help!
Body features in the media are enhanced
with props, lighting angles, and computer techniques.
Body features from
photos of different people are combined to create the "perfect" image.
Photo
images can be completely computer generated to fit the look of the day.
"Body
doubles" are common in movies when body parts of lead actors don't measure up
to the "perfect" image.
The average woman in the U.S. wears a size 12-14.
Nowadays,
models weigh up to 20% less than what is considered normal for their height and
age.
There are 3 billion women who don't look like supermodels and only
eight who do. (quote from The Body Shop ad campaign from 1997)
If Barbie
were a real woman she wouldn't be able to walk properly and would have to walk
on all fours due to her proportions.
80 to 90% of eating disorders begin
with a diet.
90% of individuals diagnosed with eating disorders are female.
One out of ten patients with eating disorders are male.
One
out of every four college-aged girls struggles with an eating disorder.
There
are five times as many people with bulimia as with anorexia.
About 50%
of people who have been anorexic develop bulimia or bulimic patterns.
70%
of eating disorders last longer than five years, with almost one quarter lasting
more than 15 years. (Canadian Health Network)
Eating disorders have the
highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
Without treatment, up to
20% of people with serious eating disorders die. With treatment, that number falls
to 2-3%.
The number of people suffering with an eating disorders has
doubled since the 1960s. (Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry)
The resolution of an eating disorder is not just a matter
of willpower. Experienced help is needed to overcome an eating disorder.
The
BIG lesson: Don't compare yourself with what you see on television or in magazine.
Embrace yourself the way you are!
This ad focuses on young girls who question their appearance
and seem to wonder if they can measure up to the collective standards of beauty.
Dove's Self-Esteem Fund's mission is to help girls worldwide develop a more positive
body image. Their motto, "because every girl deserves to feel good about herself
and see how beautiful she really is" is at the heart of this campaign. Dove
was initially criticized by industry insiders for their strategy of using real
women instead of models in their campaigns. However, this move has been applauded
by female consumers.
Do I Look Fat In This? Life Doesn't Begin Five
Pounds from Now by Jessica Weiner
Publisher:
Simon Spotlight Entertainment Publication Date: December 27, 2005 ISBN:
1-416-913-572
For any woman who has
engaged in a bathroom bitching session about how fat she feels, comes a thoughtful
guide to breaking the cycle of body criticism and creating a powerful, healthy
self-image.
While it's accepted as normal that most
women hate their bodies this widespread discontent is really just a way of masking
- and perpetuating - deeper issues, such as insecurity, absence of self- esteem,
confusion, fear and longing for love and acceptance. Filled with wisdom, guidance,
and stories of inspiration and triumph, "Do I Look Fat in This?" is a step-by-step
plan for creating a more fulfilling and positive life--and ending those negative
bonding sessions forever.
Publisher: Gurze Books
Publication Date: July 2002 ISBN: 0-936-077-433
This
book is for women who want to become less critical of their appearance, less preoccupied
with weight, and more in love with themselves — physically, sexually, and emotionally.
Combining vivid case histories, practical techniques, and simple exercises, Bodylove
addresses family expectations, self-esteem, aging, and social values.
Bodylove is an inspiring guide for
women who want to become less critical of their appearance, less preoccupied with
weight and more in love with themselves - physically, sexually, and emotionally.
Combining vivid case histories, recent research, practical techniques, and simple
exercises. Bodylove affirms a woman's basic right to like her looks and shows
how she can achieve that goal. It also covers a wide range of body image topics
such as cosmetics, healthy exercise, aging, and sexuality.
The BDD Workbook: Overcome Body Dysmorphic Disorder
and End Body Image Obsessions by James Claiborn, Cherry Pedrick
Publisher:
New Harbinger Publications Publication Date: September, 2002 ISBN: 1-572-242-930
Checking and rechecking one’s appearance
in the mirror may be more than mere vanity — it could be a sign of Body Dysmorphic
Disorder.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) sufferers
are so preoccupied with a particular aspect of their body, or with their body's
shape or size, that they spend hours each day thinking about and checking on their
supposed "deformity." BDD can lead to unnecessary plastic surgery, eating disorders,
steroid abuse, and even suicide. In this step-by-step workbook, OCD experts guide
readers through a proven intervention plan that helps them recognize the distortion
in their self-perception, develop a healthier response to their body, find support,
and enhance their self-image.
The Broken Mirror : Understanding and Treating
Body Dysmorphic Disorder by Katharine A. Phillips
Publisher:
Oxford University Press Publication Date: June 2, 2005 ISBN: 0-195-167-198
The Broken Mirror, the first andmost definitive
book on BDD, Dr. Katharine Phillips draws on years of clinical practice, scientific
research, and professional evaluations of over 700 patients to bring readers her
expertise and experience with this often debilitating illness.
This book is a close examination of body
dysmorphic disorder in which sufferers become so obsessed with perceived flaws
in their appearance as to experience disruption or depression in their lives.
All too often those afflicted with BDD are too embarrassed to speak of their concerns.
Chapters include testimonies of people with BDD, definitions and how to diagnose
BDD, causes of BDD, how BDD can be treated with medication or cognitive-behavioral
therapy, how BDD relates to anorexia nervosa, obsessive compulsive disorder and
other conditions, advice for family members and friends of those with BDD, and
more.
The Dressing
Room Project is a girl-powered rebellion to free girls & women from the bonds
of media-imposed standards of beauty! We’re posting our girl-designed cards on
mirrors in women’s dressing rooms everywhere to help girls and women feel more
comfortable in our uniquely beautiful bodies.
The Dressing Room Project is an initiative of Emerging
Women Projects, a non profit organization for teen girls' empowerment, is
working on compiling the wisdom of people recovering/recovered from eating disorders
as a guide to help concerned friends and family.
To anyone who would like
to contribute: Please include first name, age and state/country and answer
the following two questions.
1)What were the most helpful things anyone
ever said/did to motivate you to start (and continue) your recovery? 2)What
was least helpful? (what you would tell concerned friends/family to avoid saying/doing)
Any other comments/suggestions/stories are welcome.
Eve's Rib Clothing
promotes positive body image in females --- love your body already! A portion
of every Eve's Rib Purchase goes directly to the National Eating Disorders Associatesion
Love Your
Body - Women and girls spend billions of dollars every year on cosmetics,
fashion, magazines and diet aids. "Love Your Body" raises awarness and
self esteem!
BodyPositive - Boosting
Body Image At Any Weight - BodyPositive looks at ways we can feel good in the
bodies we have. Remember, your body hears everything you think.
Adios Barbie - The Body
Image Site For Every Body - This site is for every body; No matter what your
size or background, you will be inspired to love your body through thick and thin!
You are beautiful the way you are!!
Is
Your Body Image Realistic? - by Michael Bens - While it is true that
many of us, in this day and age, have a genuine need to lose weight, it is also
true that there are many more women on diets than really need to be. The fact
is, women have a tendency to see themselves as fat even if they aren’t. Unfortunately,
this is a syndrome that does not affect just women – young girls are also very
susceptible.
Feeling Fat (or Thin) May Be a
Trick of the Mind- by Rita Jenkins - Whether you feel fat, thin or
something in between has little to do with the reality of the situation, suggests
a new study. A person's self-image is an illusion constructed in the brain, the
researchers say.
You Don't Have To Be Eating
Disordered To Be Thin - by Abigail H. Natenshon - Margaret, an emaciated
13-year-old patient recently sat in my office and stated she wants to be thin,
despite what her doctor and parents tell her about how she has to gain weight.
“I want to be thin and I will be thin,” she exclaimed.
Improving
Your Body Image - by Judy Lightstone - Body image involves our perception,
imagination, emotions, and physical sensations of and about our bodies. It s not
static- but ever changing; sensitive to changes in mood, environment, and physical
experience. It is not based on fact. It is psychological in nature, and much more
influenced by self-esteem than by actual physical attractiveness as judged by
others. It is not inborn, but learned.
Feel
Good When You Look in the Mirror - by Dana Krupinsky - The constant
exposure to the perfect women portrayed in ads influences women to be image conscious
and obsess over physical appearance. Instead of making a woman feel better about
her natural body, the media encourages her to strive towards an unreasonable goal.
So don’t feel bad when you look in the mirror; that’s what they want...
Self
Esteem and Women - by Terri Giosia - Self esteem is how “you” feel
about yourself, not what others think.
Body
Image and Creative Expression - by Douglas Eby - It isn’t just about
“looking good” or eating disorders; body image relates to our identity, and how
we think about and accept ourselves, which directly or indirectly affects how
we access the awareness and emotional energy we need for creating.
The
Truth About Body Image - by Alan Fairweather - Were you aware that
people are likely to make decisions about you more by how you look than what you
say? This article talks in depth about body image and how it can influence your
business and personal success.
BDD - Body Dysmorphic
Disorder - by Abigail H. Natenshon - More than one-third of all females
between the ages of 15 and 39 suffer from BDD. This disorder is evident when preoccupation
with body appearance (especially when the preoccupation is specifically with one
area) interferes with social, career, sexual, and personal relations and activities.
Learning To Listen To Your Body - by
Abigail H. Natenshon - One of the most important ways for you to become a
healthy eater is to learn to listen closely to what your body tells you, to recognize
what it needs and desires in order to feel fit and comfortable.
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