It involves loving your body and feeling good about how it looks.
We also share how to feel more positive about your body, which helps support a healthybody image.
Part of the reason it is so misunderstood is that it has so many different definitions.
Verywell / Catherine Song
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Instagram played a pivotal role in this movement’s growing popularity.
The impact of body positivity can be seen in several ways.
Benefits of Body Positivity
Body positivity strives to help people develop a healthy body image.
According to one study, 50.5% of girls and 35.9% of boys wanted a thinner body shape.
Body positivity hopes to address these issues by helping people recognize the influences contributing to poor body image.
Such acceptance may then help combat the toll that poor body image has on their health.
Another criticism of body positivity is that it can be non-inclusive.
It neglects all the other elements of a persons identity that are more important than how a person looks.
So what can you do to maintain a healthy body image?
Be Realistic
Telling people to ignore the dominant beauty ideal isnt realistic.
This can also create more pressure for a person who is alreadyfeeling anxious, negative, and devalued.
You still have value and worth, no matter your body shape and size.
Replace Negative Thought Patterns
Repeating positive affirmations you don’t believe in can backfire.
It may even leave you feeling worse about yourself than you did before.
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t say nice things or think positive thoughts about yourself.
But a better approach would be to work onreplacing negative thought patternswith more realistic ones.
Adopt Body Neutrality
Its okay to admit that you dont necessarily love everything about your body.
Its also okay to feel neutral or even indifferent.
Body image does play a part in self-concept, but it isnt everything.
Admittedly, this isn’t always easy.
There will be moments when you feel weak, dislike aspects of yourself, andcompare yourself to others.
Try Health-Focused Self-Care
Self-care strategiescan sometimes masquerade as a way to change or control your appearance.
However, they should focus on doing things that make you feel good about the body you have now.
Show respect for your body.
Eat healthy meals because it fuels your mind and body.
Look for things that make you feel comfortable and good about how you look.
Purge your closet of clothes that don’t fit your current physique.
Purge Your Social Media
Purgeyour social media feedsof accounts that dont make you feel good about yourself.
If you find yourself constantly comparing yourself to others, youre less likely to feel good about yourself.
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The Body Positive.Frequently asked questions.
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A critical exploration of the body positive movement within physical cultures taking an intersectionality approach.Front Sports Act Living.
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