Beyond the superficial: The effect of Facebook on body dissatisfaction in males and females The human body is the best work of art, and wise it would be, to appreciate and take care of it for it is the only place that we have to live in. This is often easier said than done. Everyone has their ups and downs, which is only normal, on some days an individual might feel great about his/her body and on others days not so much, The way we view our bodies, our sujective or mental picture of our body is called body image. Defined more aptly, “body image is the perception that a person has of their physical self and the thoughts and feelings that result from that perception” (NEDC, 2015). A positive body image improves self-esteem, self-acceptance
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Body dissatisfaction is an internal process as it is based on our thoughts, feelings and perceptions but it can and is often influenced by external factors, the way one talks about their body and one’s diet. Family, friends, acquaintances, teachers and the media are some examples of external factors that can influence how an individual sees and feels about themselves and the way they look. Being in appearance orientated environment and or receiving negative feedback about appearance increases the risk of developing body dissatisfaction (NEDC, 2015). Body dissatisfaction has several consequences which include but are not limited to, low self-esteem, low self-worth, anxiety, depression, unhealthy dieting habits, eating disorders etc. Placing great emphasis on body image in defining one’s self-worth is a risk factor, which can make some people more susceptible to eating disorders than others (RICE University, 2011). According to ANAD (2015), up to 30 million people in the U.S. and &70 million people worldwide, regardless of age and gender suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) and eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness because only 1 in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment. These are some of the reasons why it is important to study in depth the topic of body dissatisfaction and the factors that contribute to it, as this can help to tailor interventions to combat these
Body dissatisfaction is an internal process as it is based on our thoughts, feelings and perceptions but it can and is often influenced by external factors, the way one talks about their body and one’s diet. Family, friends, acquaintances, teachers and the media are some examples of external factors that can influence how an individual sees and feels about themselves and the way they look. Being in appearance orientated environment and or receiving negative feedback about appearance increases the risk of developing body dissatisfaction (NEDC, 2015). Body dissatisfaction has several consequences which include but are not limited to, low self-esteem, low self-worth, anxiety, depression, unhealthy dieting habits, eating disorders etc. Placing great emphasis on body image in defining one’s self-worth is a risk factor, which can make some people more susceptible to eating disorders than others (RICE University, 2011). According to ANAD (2015), up to 30 million people in the U.S. and &70 million people worldwide, regardless of age and gender suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) and eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness because only 1 in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment. These are some of the reasons why it is important to study in depth the topic of body dissatisfaction and the factors that contribute to it, as this can help to tailor interventions to combat these