Body Acceptance

What is Body Acceptance?

What does it mean to accept our bodies? In our culture, the notion of body acceptance is often thought to be dependent on our physical appearance. We are continually sold the idea that the only route to body acceptance is to follow a certain diet plan, try this or that workout regimen, or take the newest supplement. Criticizing our bodies, working them beyond their limitations, and obsessing over food choices are sadly normalized in this environment. These cultural norms have come to be known as “diet culture,” and it’s important to recognize that just because it’s prevalent doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

An Alternative Perspective on Our Bodies

As human beings we are embodied. Our life experiences are defined in important ways by this reality; our bodies allow us to touch, taste, smell, and move through our environment. Without our bodies we couldn’t travel, explore, hug our loved ones, learn, or experience the beauty of the natural world. Our bodies are not objects, they are full of life and thus allow us to live. In other words, most of the gifts our bodies offer us have nothing to do with its appearance. Consider this beautiful passage by writer Nikita Gill.

“So please, be gentle with your body. It loves you more than anyone or anything in this world. It fixes every cut, every wound, every broken bone, and fights off so many illnesses, sometimes without you even knowing about it. Even when you punish it, it is still there for you, struggling to keep you alive, keep you breathing. Your body is an ocean full of love. So please, be kind to it. It’s doing the very best it can.”

What are Some Ways to Practice Body Acceptance?

Practice self-care. Take care of your body with soothing activities and rituals. Whether it’s a hot bath, a new meditation practice, getting a massage, or some other activity you enjoy, taking that time communicates care and respect for your body.

Be aware of diet culture and work on “seeing through” its false messages. Diet culture suggests that there is one type of body that is acceptable, that happiness is contingent on looking a certain way, and that you “should” be worrying about your body shape. None of these messages are accurate and believing them can harm your mental health and body image. It’s crucial to keep this in mind while scrolling through social media as our feeds are filled with these false claims that often fuel disordered eating habits and trigger body dysmorphia.

Cultivate an appreciation of all the ways your body takes care of you. A good way to do this is to write a thank you letter to your body. What are the ways that your body looks out for you? What are the things it can do that you appreciate? Our bodies work hard for us and allow us to enjoy our lives. Taking time to recognize the many ways your body serves you is a great step towards body acceptance and appreciation.

 

Contributed by Carina Pearson, MA , Eating Disorder IOP Counselor at Focus Treatment Centers, Chattanooga, TN

Citations

Gill, N. (2016, September 6). So Please, Be Gentle With Your Body. Thought Catalog. https://thoughtcatalog.com/nikita-gill/2015/11/so-please-be-gentle-with-your-body/

10 Steps to a Positive Body Image. (n.d.). National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). Retrieved July 8, 2021, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/general-information/ten-steps

 

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