Social Media And Body Image
Social Media And Body Image
For too many people today, the media including social media has a significant effect on body image. Surprisingly, body image and media influence begin at a shockingly young age. In one study, researchers found that children as young as 5 were changing their opinions based on tv programs.
How Does It Affect Us?
It's no wonder that the media has this affect though. When you're bombarded with countless images of thin models and actresses or muscular men, most people and especially teens are going to view these figure as role models. It also doesn't help that real life role models such as parents and older siblings often openly obsess about their own weight. Everywhere you turn from friends and peers to clothing shopping ads, you're surrounded by the popular opinion that you have to look a certain way.
These viewpoints are dangerous but almost impossible to avoid. For parents who may want to protect their children, it's impossible to hide every magazine, turn off television, and ban any sort of media exposure. Also, adults who want to avoid these influences on themselves are going to have to face them from advertisements, tv shows, movies, and a wide variety of media sources. When you consider all of these influences, each person is faced with a society that's obsessed with weight loss and products which promote the ideal body image.
Why Is It Dangerous?
You've probably heard or even tried some of these products. From diet pills that promise a thin, sculpted body to wraps, and even certain clothing, people spend hundreds of dollars on weight loss products each year. Unfortunately, most of these products have not been tested by reputable sources and will not deliver the results you want. Some of them may even be dangerous to your health, so you should avoid these products as much as possible.
Media's influence on body image also doesn't promote healthy lifestyle patterns. If you want to maintain a healthy body weight and image, you should follow a balanced diet and get regular exercise. These habits are not gimmicky and they will lead to beneficial results, not only for your body image, but also for your short and long-term health. By sticking to healthier lifestyle habits, you'll be standing up to the media image and instead creating your own idea of beauty. In most cases, your healthiest body is not going to live up to the standards put forth in the media.
What Should We do?
Creating a healthy lifestyle isn't easy and your perfect health may not be the same as promoted in popular media. However, if you truly want to build a healthy and happy lifestyle for yourself, step away from the weight loss products and gimmicks on the market today. Instead, focus your attention on your own habits and behaviors. Focus on creating a healthy and balanced diet for yourself along with a wide range of physical activities that you truly enjoy. You'll notice that these habits will help you to regain a healthy body image and personal expectations.
The process to achieve a healthier lifestyle or anything you want to accomplish in life can be a lot easier when you learn to reject negative thoughts and replace them with rational positive thinking. Do not have an inner battle with yourself, learn to understand your limits, and more importantly learn what a healthy body is for you.
This article is an excerpt from my eBook Mind Hacks To A Healthier You, you can check it out for more tips and achieving a healthier lifestyle
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Nice article, sounds like a great book.