Body image is how one sees their own body and how attractive one feels. Many people are concerned about their body image. The factors that most contribute to this are how they feel about their hair, skin, weight, or the size or shape of a body part.

Throughout history, there has been an emphasis placed on the beauty of the human body. We can see this in art throughout the ages. Today, there are many influencing factors that shape our views of beauty and how we see our bodies.

Body image is a combination of our emotional attitudes and our perceptions and beliefs about our bodies. It relates to what we believe about our appearance, how we feel about our body’s size, shape, and weight, and how we sense and control our body as we move.

A person who has a positive body image will understand that their self-worth is not dependent on their appearance. A positive body image allows one to accept and appreciate the whole of their body and what it can and cannot do. It is an indicator that one has a broad concept of beauty. It means that one feels good about themselves and accepts how they look and present themselves to other people. They have a positive view of who they are.

Body image, which is based on our self-perception, will impact weight loss management. If we see ourselves as being at ideal body weight, then weight loss will not be a concern. If we see ourselves as being overweight, then we will want to take action to change our weight to help us improve our view of ourselves.

If we see ourselves as being in a place that is causing us to be unhealthy, we will want to take steps in weight loss. While we may still see ourselves as being attractive, this is another component of body image. Some people may see themselves in a positive light while still being overweight. A correct perception is still necessary when coming to terms with weight loss management.

Body image can have an impact on weight management. If we see ourselves as overweight or obese, we will most often want to lose weight. If we see ourselves as underweight, we will want to add to our body mass. It comes down to how we perceive ourselves and how we appear. But these may be based on misperceptions.

Poor body image can lead to things like dieting, over-exercising, eating disorders, or mental health issues. When we are dissatisfied with our body we will try and change, most often to meet society’s expectation of what we should look like.

The proliferation of diets and diet books is proof that we often see the need to change how we look. People will choose to do this to lose weight and not necessarily to eat healthily. It can lead to the yo-yo weight loss and gain that we often see in people. It also can have a negative impact on our mental and physical health.

In many cases, weight loss will improve body image. Many people who go through the process of weight loss will see that they are doing something good for themselves and with this, their body image improves. Their self-confidence and self-worth will improve, as well.

But this isn’t always the case. Some people, after losing weight, will still see themselves as being overweight. Even when they make the changes to healthier body weight, they may not feel worthy. This is probably due to the amount of time and the persistent message they have been telling themselves.

This can be changed. When you have the help of medical professionals who are able to look at your whole well-being in the process of weight management, this will improve. Understanding what the right weight is for you and that you have made the change to improve your physical and mental health, your body image will improve.

The kind and compassionate professionals at Metabolic Medical Centers can answer all your questions. We serve patients from Mount Pleasant SC, Irmo SC, West Ashley SC, Murrells Inlet SC, Columbia SC, Bluffton SC, Sullivans Island SC, Isle of Palms SC, Daniel Island SC, Charleston SC, James Island SC, North Charleston SC, Pawleys Island SC, Myrtle Beach SC, Hilton Head SC, and Hardeeville SC.