Various health problems due to negative body image & bull; hello healthy

We all have something we don't like about our appearance - too short noses, too dark skin, short or too tall stature, or eyes that are too big or too small. Usually we realize it is part of our imperfection, and does not interfere with everyday life.

However, the media plays a very big role in creating an unrealistic standard of self-appearance, which in turn "forces" us to build a perception of our bodies to follow these standards in order to be accepted by society — especially in terms of beauty ideals and body shape expectations.

When body image is the main focus, you may tend to overestimate your size or weight, or think that you need to be plumper or slimmer. When body image perceptions get confused with personality and self-esteem, this could mean that there is a deeper problem that could be causing an eating disorder.

There is no single cause for bodily dissatisfaction or eating disorders. However, various studies have shown that the media do indeed contribute an unfair portion of the ideal body image, and that the exposure and pressure exerted by the media can increase feelings of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.

Impact of negative body image on mental health

Depression

Teens who have a negative self-image are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and a tendency to think and / or attempt suicide than a group of teens who can accept their body appearance for what it is, even when compared to adolescents with other psychiatric illnesses, according to a recent study by the team. joint investigators from Bradley Hospital, Butler Hospital, and Brown Medical School.

For example, the comment "fat". Analyst Arroyo, PhD, and Jake Harwood, Ph.D from the University of California collaborated on two separate studies to find out whether this type of commentary is the cause or the result of worrying about ideal weight and other mental health issues.

Researchers described “fat” comments as any kind of comments from other people about what participants eat and exercise should be doing, their anxiety about being overweight, how they perceive their weight and body shape, as well as how they are involved in making comparisons with people. other on this issue.

As a result, overall, regardless of the participants' gender or body mass index (BMI), the more frequently they participated in these kinds of comments, the lower their satisfaction with their own bodies and the higher the level of depression they had after three weeks. From these two separate studies, researchers concluded that eating disorders, worries about body image being slim, and mental disorders were indeed the result of engaging in “fat” comments, not just listening.

Body Dysmorphia Disorder

Classic body dysmorphia (BDD) is a body image obsession characterized by constant to disturbing anxiety about imagined physical 'defects' and appearance, or overly concerned about very minimal bodily deficiencies, such as a hooked nose or imperfect skin. Weight-related BDD is classified as a destructive obsession with weight and body shape, for example, thinking that thighs are too fat or waist is too big.

In reality, the perceived 'flaw' may be minimal, if not absent, imperfection. But for them, the disability was judged so significant and prominent that it caused severe emotional distress and difficulties in daily functioning.

BDD occurs most frequently in adolescents and adults, and research shows that it affects men and women almost equally.

The causes of BDD are unclear, but certain biological and environmental factors can contribute to its development, including genetic predisposition, neurobiological factors such as impaired serotonin function in the brain, personality traits, and life experiences.

This obsession makes it difficult for people with BDD to focus on anything but their imperfections. This can lead to low self-esteem, avoidance of social situations, and problems at work or school. People with severe BDD can avoid leaving their home altogether and may even have suicidal thoughts or make a suicide attempt.

BDD sufferers can engage in several types of compulsive or repetitive behaviors to try to hide or disguise their shortcomings even though these behaviors usually only provide temporary solutions, for example: camouflage (makeup, dress size, hairstyle), opting for plastic surgery procedures, obsessive mirror self-surveillance , avoiding mirrors, scratching the skin, and so on.

Anorexia Nervosa

Many people think that anorexia is a condition experienced by one individual voluntarily.

Anorexia is the most deadly mental disorder, carrying a sixfold increased risk of death - four times the risk of dying from major depression. The odds are even worse for people first diagnosed with anorexia in their 20s. They have 18 times the risk of death than healthy people in the same age group according to an analysis of the medical literature by Jon Arcelus, MD, PhD, of the University of Leicester, UK. If left untreated, an eating disorder can take over a person's life and cause serious, potentially fatal medical complications. Although eating disorders are commonly associated with women, they affect men almost equally.

People with anorexia nervosa may see themselves as overweight, even when they are actually underweight well below a healthy standard.

Anorexia causes sufferers to deny themselves the need for food to the point of deliberate starvation when they become obsessed with weight loss. In addition, the person with anorexia will deny the hunger and still refuse to eat, but at other times he will reciprocate overeating and return to wasting calories by vomiting food or exercising to the limit of his body's tolerance.

Emotional symptoms of anorexia include irritability, withdrawal from social situations, deficiency mood emotion, unable to understand the seriousness of the situation he is in, fear of eating in public and obsession with food and sports. Often people with anorexia will develop their own food rituals or remove whole foods from their diet, for fear of becoming "fat".

Bulimia Nervosa

The person with bulimia shows loss of control over large meals in a short period of time, then exerts everything in their power to waste calories by inducing vomiting, vigorous exercise, or abuse of laxatives.

This behavior then grows into a repetitive cycle that controls many aspects of the sufferer's life and brings a number of bad effects, both emotionally and physically. People with bulimia are usually normal body weight, or may be slightly overweight.

Emotional symptoms of bulimia include severe low self-esteem related to body image, feelings of inadequate self-control, guilt or shame about eating, and withdrawal from the environment.

Like anorexia, bulimia will also have an impact on body damage. The cycle of eating and vomiting excessively can damage the body organs involved in the digestive system, teeth damaged by abrasion from vomiting, and ulcers. Excessive vomiting can also lead to dehydration which can lead to heart attack, arrhythmia, heart failure, and even death.