Written by: Dr. Charlotte Markey
Body image is more than just liking or disliking how we look. It can affect how we treat ourselves, interact with others, and take care of our health. How we feel about our bodies can change from day to day. When we have a negative body image, it can make us feel sad, stressed, or bad about ourselves. Over time, this can even lead to serious problems like body dysmorphic disorder, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and other mental health struggles.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition where someone can’t stop thinking about parts of their body they believe look “wrong” or flawed, even when others don’t see a problem. People with BDD may spend a lot of time trying to fix or hide these “flaws,” sometimes going as far as to have surgery. But these changes usually don’t help them feel better. Instead, the worry continues or gets worse.
Eating Disorders
Body dissatisfaction can sometimes lead to serious eating problems. For example, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa both usually involve extreme concerns about weight and shape.
It’s also important to know that anyone can have a tough time feeling good about their body, no matter what size they are. Someone who looks thin might still avoid certain foods or skip meals because they’re unhappy with how they look; the connection between body image and eating disorders can be complicated.
Depression
Feeling unhappy with your body is often linked to feeling sad or depressed. It’s hard to say which one causes the other; sometimes poor body image leads to feeling down, and sometimes being depressed makes someone more critical of their body. When we don’t like our bodies, it’s easy to feel bad about ourselves overall. And if we’re worried about being judged or not accepted, that can make those feelings even stronger. Some research shows that treating body image issues and depression at the same time may help people feel better. Other studies suggest that if teens focus on what their bodies can do (instead of how they look), they may feel less depressed.
Anxiety
People who feel nervous or anxious about their bodies often feel anxious in general, too. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why, but it is possible that if someone feels uncomfortable in their own skin, the world around them can feel scary. On the other hand, when people feel good about themselves, they may feel more confident and safe in the world. Anxiety can also cause us to have distorted thoughts that lead us to believe untrue things about ourselves and contribute to body dissatisfaction.
Substance Use
At first, it might not seem like how we feel about our bodies has anything to do with things like smoking or using drugs. But some experts believe that when people don’t feel good about themselves, they might stop taking care of their bodies and may be more apt to make unhealthy choices. If someone feels like their body isn’t valuable, they might not feel motivated to treat it well. There’s also a more direct connection: some people use certain substances, like muscle-building supplements or steroids, to try to change the way they look.
Being dissatisfied with one’s body is common and not a mental illness on its own, but these concerns are associated with other mental health problems. Sometimes, treating body image concerns may improve or even prevent other mental health concerns.