Why you should promote a positive body image in yourself

SALT LAKE CITY – So many people struggle with loving their body as it is. That’s why it helps to promote a positive body image not just in yourself, but also in others.

In the latest Let’s Get Moving with Maria podcast episode, Maria Shilaos spoke with Lyndy Barnard, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Founder of Mind & Strength Counseling, to learn how we can genuinely love our bodies more and boost our self-esteem.

The way we view our own body isn’t something that we’re born with. There’s more of an environmental influence in our body image.

“Babies aren’t born hating their bodies,” Barnard said. “If you look at the history, people’s views of body image and beauty standards have changed.”

Even culturally, there are different standards of beauty. For example, Western standards are different from Asian standards. However, a standard that most people seem to consider universal is having a thin body.

“We have a lot of thin privilege in the United States,” she said. “That puts a lot of pressure on people that don’t naturally fit that standard.”

Barnard also stressed that children start to learn about body image and pick up on beauty standards as young as 6 years old. According to her website, 97% of women say they have at least one negative thought about their bodies every day.

“A lot of women don’t even realize they’re engaging in disordered eating behaviors because it’s become so normalized,” she said.

Remember that positive body image isn’t about what your body looks like. It’s about believing that your body is beautiful no matter what it looks like.

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