Promoting Positive Body Image: Steps Towards Preventing Disordered Eating

Tracy Muller
11 minutes ago
3 min read

It’s fascinating to ponder how recent a development it is that functional mirrors are a part of almost everyone’s life. In a relatively short time, we’ve become quite obsessed with how we present ourselves to the world. As a result, however, the concept of body image has become a widespread reality.

This daily, hourly self-assessment has been associated with different types of diagnosable eating disorders. A distorted body image just might be the strongest predictor of disordered eating behaviors. Obviously, concerted efforts to address this connection can be vital in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. The first and most important steps might be promoting a positive body image.

Body Image and Eating Disorders

How we perceive our body shapes our mood and daily interactions. It influences self-esteem and confidence. These elements, in turn, inform how we approach the big and the small decisions we make. The ramifications of a negative body image are limitless, yet often seemingly invisible. They also vary widely based on factors like age, race, gender, culture, religion, and socioeconomic status.

All of the above converge to create the intersection of an unhealthy body image and the risk of an eating disorder. Two big red flags to watch are:

How you interact with your body: A negative body image can manifest in compulsive checking, measuring, and touching. Conversely, the person may choose avoidance. They wear baggy clothes and rarely look in a mirror.
How you eat: The outcomes can range from restrictive diets to binge eating. When your body image contributes to disordered eating, your eating behaviors change in ways that are unique to each person.

Spreading Body Positivity in a Digital World

As mentioned above, not long ago, we weren’t able to focus on how we imagined our body would look. Today, however, social media has turned the concept of body image into a fear-driven obsession. It requires a conscious, concerted effort to resist the pull of the algorithms. However, it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make.

Body positivity inspires and empowers people from all demographics to:

Reject imposed body appearance standards
Recognize beauty as an objective concept that encompasses far more than we’re conditioned to believe
Place value on much more than our looks, e.g., integrity, creativity, compassion, discernment, and more
Say no to diet culture — and comparison culture, too
Explore the role your emotions play in how you eat and how you see yourself
Respect others on their personal body journey
Practice mindfulness to become more aware of when external influences are triggering you
Do the work to identify the societal structures that are in place to control you

Integrating Body Positivity into Eating Disorder Treatment

The body positivity paradigm can be a valuable tool when helping someone who is already in the throes of an eating disorder because:

Unrealistic Body Standards Can Be Addressed

It can feel like a copout to point your finger at “society.” While, of course, we all have room to grow and evolve, the world around us very much plays a massive role. In a therapy setting, you can openly name the methods by which we are negatively influenced into seeing ourselves as compliant consumers.

The Concept of Embodiment Can Be Introduced

An individual with an eating disorder typically feels disconnected from their physical cues and needs. Therapy is a space where you can rediscover what it’s like to reconnect with your physical needs in a positive manner. This can go beyond eating to include movement, sexuality, fashion, and more.