What is Body Image and What are the Causes?
Body image is how we perceive our bodies and our positive or negative feelings, thoughts and behaviors. There are many causes as to why many people, especially teenagers, struggle with body image but there are three major causes that come to mind when this topic is brought up.
Before we look closer into what each of these subtopics entail, let’s consider some symptoms to look out for if you or someone you know is struggling with body image issues and at the end of this report you will find coping strategies and possible treatment options.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs of body image issues could be broken down into 3 categories:
- Behavioral Signs: Restrictive Eating, Binge Eating, Purging, Excessive Exercise, Social Withdrawal, Isolation, and Preoccupation with body
- Physical Signs: A significant difference in weight loss or gain, hair loss, fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, dizziness, irregular periods, constipation, and dry skin.
- Psychological Signs: Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, obsessive thoughts, negative body image, perfectionism, and increased mood swings.
(R. Miller, para. 1-3, 2024).
Let’s look at three areas in which these symptoms can begin and possibly increase over time.