{"id":5399,"date":"2012-02-02T10:00:07","date_gmt":"2012-02-02T15:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ccpa.scottbuckingham.ca\/blog\/?p=1727"},"modified":"2015-07-03T16:04:32","modified_gmt":"2015-07-03T20:04:32","slug":"body-image","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ccpa-accp.ca\/fr\/body-image\/","title":{"rendered":"Body Image"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Culturally, North America has become obsessed with the concept of body image<\/em>.\u00a0 Children are bombarded by mixed messages describing the \u201cright\u201d physique and the \u201cright\u201d body type. These messages are broadcasted through television, radio, movies, magazines, newspapers, billboards, the web and through a barrage of electronic gadgets (i.e. cell phones, tablet computers, personal computers).\u00a0 \u201cBody image is a widespread preoccupation. In one study of college students, 74.4% of the normal-weight women stated that they thought about their weight or appearance \u2018all the time\u2019 or \u2018frequently.\u2019 But the women weren\u2019t alone; the study also found that 46% of the normal-weight men surveyed responded the same way.\u201d (Brown University, 2012, Online)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

DEFINING BODY IMAGE<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Body image is a subjective picture of how we consciously and unconsciously relate to our bodies. It is how we perceive and interpret the messages being offered through the media and our social environments.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe obsession with body shape and size is not a new phenomenon.\u00a0 Throughout history, society has worshipped a variety of \u2018ideal\u2019 images of the female (male) body.\u201d (Friedman, 2002, p. 97) Ironically the \u201cideal\u201d shape and size has varied, shifting between obesity and ultra thin throughout various stages of humanity.\u00a0 The distortion of body image occurs when we feel a need to prove acceptable; whether the acceptability is through our own eyes, the eyes of another, or based on societal perceptions. Unraveling the threads of distortion that have become so entangled begins when we can distinguish between a healthy body image and a distorted body image.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HEALTHY BODY IMAGE<\/span><\/strong>
\n– You unconditionally accept your body.
\n– You cherish your uniqueness and your profound individuality.
\n– You reject comparing your body with others.
\n– You seek to establish a healthy approach to eating and personal lifestyle.
\n– You resist defining your self-worth and value by your physical appearance or performance.<\/p>\n

DISTORTED BODY IMAGE<\/span><\/strong>
\n– You lack confidence in your bodies shape, size, and attractiveness.
\n– You have a distorted perception of your body favoring another’s over your own.
\n– You reject your body type wishing for another.
\n– Your body feels like a foreign object.
\n– You worry about your consumption of food, calories, metabolism, weight, and energy burnt.<\/p>\n

Individuals consumed with the \u201cright\u201d body image\u00a0 or type have a higher likelihood of developing psychological challenges.\u00a0 They may suffer from feelings of social withdraw or isolation, negative self-esteem, low self-worth, depression, anxiety, obsessions, panic attacks, and suicidal thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Battling the negative body image in children can prove arduous task.\u00a0 Children observe the perceptions and misperceptions of their parents. Children\u2019s internal sonar can detect messages that are not only verbally communicated, but are deeply embedded in the psyche of their parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Moreover, the media plays mind games with our children.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s almost impossible for girls (and boys) to escape the pervasive influence of the media.\u00a0 Children watch an average of four hours of television every day.\u201d\u00a0 (Friedman, 1997, p. 63)\u00a0 The media\u2019s influence consumes every aspect of a child\u2019s life today.\u00a0 Children are influenced by technological devices at a much younger age and more rapid rate.\u00a0 In fact, schools throughout North America have implemented tablets and other learning devices to promote academic growth. Argumentatively, while these devices offer scores of positive possibilities, sadly they also allow for the influence of the media at a much younger age.\u00a0 \u201cThe media is a powerful conduit for transmission and reinforcement of cultural beliefs and values, and while it may not be exclusively responsible for determining the standards for physical attractiveness, it makes escaping frequent exposure to these images and attitudes almost impossible.\u201d (Brown University, 2012, Online)\u00a0 Therefore, it is prudent that parents play a vital role in monitoring and being the ultimate overseer<\/em> of their children\u2019s technological influences.\u00a0<\/p>\n

IMPROVING BODY IMAGE<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

As people, we need to learn to unconditionally accept ourselves.\u00a0 Whether or not I am having a good hair day<\/em>, I am a person of value and worth.\u00a0 I am person deserving of acceptance, love, and approval.\u00a0 I should not place my value on another\u2019s expectations or societal norms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

ACCOUNTABLE<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Everyone should have someone that they can be accountable unto.\u00a0 It is important that people can check in with others from time-to-time, when they are struggling with negative thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
HEALTHIER APPROACHES<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
– Accept your body as your unique instrument to life.<\/td>\n– Be aware of your bodies need for nourishment.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
– Do not try to achieve a particular body stereotype.<\/td>\n– Avoid weighing yourself on a daily basis.\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
– Recognize your limitations.<\/td>\n– Consider yoga as a source of body and mind unification.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
– Do not strive for a perfect body, rather a healthy<\/em> body.<\/td>\n– Deny the shame and blame game.\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
– Have an unconditional<\/em> approach to life.<\/td>\n– Respect your body and your person.\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
– Develop relationships with others who have healthy approaches to eating and lifestyle.\u00a0<\/td>\n– Enjoy the body you have, by playing games, getting out and participating with others in healthy activities.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
– Reject or avoid negative relationships.<\/td>\n– Positively develop your inner being.\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
– Practice positive \u201cI-Statements\u201d and positive affirmations.<\/td>\n– Educate yourself on positive perspectives on health, beauty and lifestyle.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In the end, our children\u2019s wellbeing is directly influenced by our own wellbeing.\u00a0 If we want our children to have a healthy approach to life, then we need to lead by example. Life flourishes with positivity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

REFERENCES <\/strong><\/p>\n

Brazlier, B. (2009) Thrive fitness, Mental and physical strength for life.<\/em> Ontario: Penguin.<\/p>\n

Brown University (2012) Body image. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from http:\/\/brown.edu\/Student_Services\/Health_Services\/Health_Education\/nutrition_&_eating_concerns\/body_image.php<\/a><\/p>\n

Campos , P. (2004). The diet myth: Why America\u2019s obsession with weight is hazardous to your health.<\/em> New York: Penguin.<\/p>\n

Friedman, S. S. (2002) Body thieves, Help girls reclaim their natural bodies and become physically active.<\/em> British Columbia: Salal Books<\/p>\n

Friedman, S. S. (1997) When girls feel fat, Helping girls through adolescence<\/em>. Ontario: HarperCollins<\/p>\n

Joseph, R. (1988) The right cerebral hemisphere: Emotion, music, visual-spatial skills, body-image, dreams, and awareness. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 44 (5): 630-73\u00a0<\/p>\n

The University of Alabama (2012) Parenting assistance line, PAL. Retrieved January 29, 2012, from http:\/\/www.pal.ua.edu\/discipline\/moody_teen.php<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Culturally, North America has become obsessed with the concept of body image.\u00a0 Children are bombarded by mixed messages describing the \u201cright\u201d physique and the \u201cright\u201d body type. These messages are broadcasted through television, radio, movies, magazines, newspapers, billboards, the web and through a barrage of electronic gadgets (i.e. cell phones, tablet computers, personal computers).\u00a0 \u201cBody […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1001014,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[509,510,329,511,512,513,514,413,515,516,517,155,489],"class_list":["post-5399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-parentingchildrenandtheclassroom","tag-body-image","tag-disordered-eating","tag-dr-asa-don-brown","tag-eating-disorders","tag-malnutrition","tag-misperceptions","tag-nutrition","tag-perceptions","tag-positivity","tag-relationships","tag-self-awareness","tag-self-esteem","tag-self-worth"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBody Image - L'Association canadienne de counseling et de psychoth\u00e9rapie<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ccpa-accp.ca\/body-image\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Body Image - L'Association canadienne de counseling et de psychoth\u00e9rapie\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Culturally, North America has become obsessed with the concept of body image.\u00a0 Children are bombarded by mixed messages describing the \u201cright\u201d physique and the \u201cright\u201d body type. 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