Ryan O’Mara Ramin Nadjafi Nicole Milana Elizabeth Basile Justine Elfrink

Objectives Define Body Image Define Body Image Determine why a positive body image is important to overall health Determine why a positive body image is important to overall health Determine associations of negative body image Determine associations of negative body image Identify warning signs and symptoms of negative body image Identify warning signs and symptoms of negative body image Identify ways to improve body image Identify ways to improve body image

Defining Body Image

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History of “Body Image” Body Image, pre-1950 Body Image, pre-1950 Referred to war-related neuropathic conditions Referred to war-related neuropathic conditions distorted perceptions induced by brain (Berklow, 1997) distorted perceptions induced by brain (Berklow, 1997) example: phantom limb example: phantom limb

History of “Body Image” Body Image, 1950s-Today Body Image, 1950s-Today Definition underwent transformation in 1950s Definition underwent transformation in 1950s Physiologists upgraded study of body image Physiologists upgraded study of body image Contemporary concept of “body image” (BI) is relatively new (Cash and Pruzinsky, 1990) Contemporary concept of “body image” (BI) is relatively new (Cash and Pruzinsky, 1990)

Challenging Limiting Perceptions Limiting Perception: Female Only Limiting Perception: Female Only Psychology/psychiatry dominate field of study Psychology/psychiatry dominate field of study focus on eating disorders among young women focus on eating disorders among young women associate BI mostly with the weight and shape of females associate BI mostly with the weight and shape of females

Challenging Limiting Perceptions Limiting Perception: Female Only Limiting Perception: Female Only Males also subject to BI Males also subject to BI

Governor of California I am the Governator!

Challenging Limiting Perceptions Limiting Perception: Male vs. Female Only Limiting Perception: Male vs. Female Only BI covers more than gender-specific paradigms BI covers more than gender-specific paradigms

Challenging Limiting Perceptions change in appearance due to condition or treatment can drastically effect person’s BI change in appearance due to condition or treatment can drastically effect person’s BI cancer cancer skin disease skin disease burn burn accident accident

Definition of Body Image BI includes: BI includes: perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors related toward one’s body for any reason (Cash, 2004) perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors related toward one’s body for any reason (Cash, 2004)

Determining why a positive body image is important to overall health

Behavior Behavior Self-esteem - a personal evaluation of one’s worth as a person. It measures how much you respect yourself and is directly related to body image (Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center, 1995) Self-esteem - a personal evaluation of one’s worth as a person. It measures how much you respect yourself and is directly related to body image (Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center, 1995) Psyche Psyche Body image influences

Self-esteem Physically: how happy you are with how you look Physically: how happy you are with how you look Intellectually: how well you feel you can accomplish your goals Intellectually: how well you feel you can accomplish your goals Emotionally: how much you feel loved Emotionally: how much you feel loved Morally: how you think of yourself as a person Morally: how you think of yourself as a person High self esteem makes for a happier life! High self esteem makes for a happier life!

Negative body image Satisfaction and mood plummets Satisfaction and mood plummets Sense of self becomes unhealthy Sense of self becomes unhealthy Lose confidence in abilities Lose confidence in abilities Problems in areas, including sexuality, careers and relationships. Problems in areas, including sexuality, careers and relationships. Loss of self confidence "To lose confidence in one's body is to lose confidence in one's self" -Simone de Beauvoir (Women and Body Image, 2000) Loss of self confidence "To lose confidence in one's body is to lose confidence in one's self" -Simone de Beauvoir (Women and Body Image, 2000) Loss of self respect Loss of self respect Low self-esteem Low self-esteem

Body Image and emotional health What is emotional health? (family doctor.org, 2000) What is emotional health? (family doctor.org, 2000) Control of thoughts, feelings and behavior Control of thoughts, feelings and behavior Can cope with stress and problems Can cope with stress and problems Keep problems in perspective Keep problems in perspective Know when to seek help from doctor/counselor Know when to seek help from doctor/counselor

Body image and emotional health Poor body image leads to poor emotional health Poor body image leads to poor emotional health Stressors: friends, boys, parents, media Stressors: friends, boys, parents, media Unable to keep problems in perspective Unable to keep problems in perspective Body dimorphic disorder Body dimorphic disorder Doesn’t see a doctor/counselor when sick Doesn’t see a doctor/counselor when sick Eating disorders Eating disorders Emotionally depressed Emotionally depressed

Body image and emotional health Poor emotional health effects (family doctor.org, 2000) Poor emotional health effects (family doctor.org, 2000) Distress Distress Lowers immune system making a person more susceptible to disease Lowers immune system making a person more susceptible to disease Anxiety can lead to other complications such as high blood pressure Anxiety can lead to other complications such as high blood pressure

Physical effect of a negative body image Unhealthy dieting Unhealthy dieting Anorexia Anorexia Bulimia Bulimia Yo-yo dieting Yo-yo dieting Insufficient nutrients Insufficient nutrients Over exercising Over exercising (Teen Health, 2000)

Determine associations of negative body image

The media Socio-cultural messages: exposure to the thin ideal produces depression, shame, guilt, body dissatisfaction, and stress Socio-cultural messages: exposure to the thin ideal produces depression, shame, guilt, body dissatisfaction, and stress Media promotes current mainstream culture’s standards for body shape or size and importance of beauty Media promotes current mainstream culture’s standards for body shape or size and importance of beauty Media message: if you try hard enough, spend enough, suffer enough, you can have the look you want Media message: if you try hard enough, spend enough, suffer enough, you can have the look you want

The media Direct relationship between media exposure and eating disorder symptoms (Dittrich, 2005) Direct relationship between media exposure and eating disorder symptoms (Dittrich, 2005) Study: year old girls exposed to images and then valuate themselves Study: year old girls exposed to images and then valuate themselves Women compare themselves to images of women even when they are not asked to do so Women compare themselves to images of women even when they are not asked to do so

Television and Movies Children spend more time watching TV than they do in school Children spend more time watching TV than they do in school American children spend hrs. a week watching TV American children spend hrs. a week watching TV At age 70, Americans will have spent 7-10 years of their life watching TV At age 70, Americans will have spent 7-10 years of their life watching TV Television and movies reinforce the importance of a thin body as a measure of woman’s worth (Gerber, 2005) Television and movies reinforce the importance of a thin body as a measure of woman’s worth (Gerber, 2005) Over 75% of female characters on TV are underweight and only 20% are above average in size Over 75% of female characters on TV are underweight and only 20% are above average in size

Magazines and advertisements message of “thin is in” In 48 issues of women’s magazines 63 diet food ads were found as compared to only 1 in 48 issues of men’s magazines In 48 issues of women’s magazines 63 diet food ads were found as compared to only 1 in 48 issues of men’s magazines 70% of women feel more depression, self- loathing, and shame at their bodies after looking at fashion magazines (Nielson, 2004) 70% of women feel more depression, self- loathing, and shame at their bodies after looking at fashion magazines (Nielson, 2004) Over 75% of the covers of women’s magazines include at least one message about how to change a women’s bodily appearance by diet, exercise, or cosmetic surgery (Gerber, 2005) Over 75% of the covers of women’s magazines include at least one message about how to change a women’s bodily appearance by diet, exercise, or cosmetic surgery (Gerber, 2005)

Puberty Most teens struggle with their self esteem beginning at the onset of puberty (Rutherford, 2001) Most teens struggle with their self esteem beginning at the onset of puberty (Rutherford, 2001) Unhealthy crash dieting and eating disorders often develop around this time in girls Unhealthy crash dieting and eating disorders often develop around this time in girls Boys going through puberty may become obsessed with weight training and steroid use Boys going through puberty may become obsessed with weight training and steroid use

Identifying warning signs and symptoms of negative body image

Warning Signs Sudden weight loss Sudden weight loss Skipping meals Skipping meals Eating in secret Eating in secret Stomach upset or bloating following meals Stomach upset or bloating following meals Constipation or diarrhea Constipation or diarrhea Constantly viewing themselves in comparison to others Constantly viewing themselves in comparison to others Compulsively weighing themselves Compulsively weighing themselves Depression and Anxiety Weakness or dizziness An intolerance to cold Frequent visits to the bathroom after meals Fixating upon and overemphasizing certain body parts Commenting frequently on other people's appearances and/or body shapes

Warning Sings Cont. Frequently viewing their appearances in mirrors Frequently viewing their appearances in mirrors Excessive or abnormal exercise routine or dieting excessively Excessive or abnormal exercise routine or dieting excessively Disordered eating habits or refusing to eat all together Disordered eating habits or refusing to eat all together Unrealistic beauty standards: The person is likely to be extremely critical of themselves and of their peers. Very low self-esteem Using diet or laxative pills In females, a loss of menstruation.

Identifying ways to improve body image

Understanding an individual’s body image Body image is ever changing; sensitive to mood, environment, and physical experience. (psychotherapist, 1999) Body image is ever changing; sensitive to mood, environment, and physical experience. (psychotherapist, 1999) It is a learned judgment; the learning occurs from the family and peers. (psychotherapist, 1999) It is a learned judgment; the learning occurs from the family and peers. (psychotherapist, 1999) Genetics does play a role in your body and at least 25% to 70% of your body is determined by your genes. (Center for Change, 1995) Genetics does play a role in your body and at least 25% to 70% of your body is determined by your genes. (Center for Change, 1995)

Developing a Healthy Body Image Listen to your body. Eat when you are hungry. Listen to your body. Eat when you are hungry. Exercise regularly in an enjoyable way, regardless of size. Exercise regularly in an enjoyable way, regardless of size. Expect normal weekly and monthly changes in weight and shape Expect normal weekly and monthly changes in weight and shape Ask for support and encouragement from friends and family when life is stressful. Ask for support and encouragement from friends and family when life is stressful. Decide how you wish to spend your energy pursuing the "perfect body image" or enjoying family, friends, school and, most importantly, life Decide how you wish to spend your energy pursuing the "perfect body image" or enjoying family, friends, school and, most importantly, life (psychotherapist, 1999) (psychotherapist, 1999)