Body image is a term used to describe how you see your body. It is a state of mind that can affect confidence, not only in regard to how you look, but also how you feel about yourself, which can affect your physical and mental health. Unfortunately, many women have poor body image; even those who have beautiful, thin, fit bodies can look in a mirror and criticize themselves for their imperfections (that are often out of proportion to how they look) rather than their strengths. In contrast, women who have positive body image are confident in knowing that, no matter what the weight on the scale, they are fit, strong, healthy, and beautiful.
Pressure to be thin can come from many areas�standards of the sport or athletic activity, coaches, trainers, parents, friends, and magazines. Because of this constant pressure, many girls and women feel "fat," whether they are or not (most athletic girls are not). The statistics are frightening�70 to 80 percent of women feel they need to lose weight, one-fourth of college women have some bulimic behaviors, and up to 60 percent of girls and women have some components of eating disorders.
Mood can become directly related to weight fluctuations and dieting success or failure. Dieting itself can delay puberty and cause stunted growth, depression, difficulty concentrating, frequent illness, and injury, including fractures, pain, poor skin, brittle hair and nails, and irritability. These symptoms can cause a rebound effect of even worse body image, leading to further dieting, eating disorders, or overeating.
Body image and weight management problems become serious when this affects other aspects of life, such as not wanting to spend time with others when eating is involved, regularly skipping social, family, or work activities to work out, or cancelling social engagements based on weight. Your role in life as athlete, friend, and family member will not be affected by more or less pounds. It will be affected by happiness and self-confidence.
If you have body image concerns, as most girls and women do, review the following statements and allow yourself to consider how positive you feel about your body image. Starred statements suggest a higher risk of eating disorders.
Statements to Consider When Evaluating Your Body Image:-
I seriously worry about my weight on a daily basis.*
I want to weigh 10 pounds more or less than I do now.
I have been on more than one diet in the past year.
I have or have had an eating disorder.
People tell me I am "too thin," but I always feel fat.*
Even though I weigh less than I have in the past year, I feel fat.*
I weigh myself more than once a day.*
I get anxious if I can't exercise more than one hour each day.
If I gain more than one pound, I get anxious or depressed.*
I feel guilty when I eat foods that contain any fat.*
I would rather eat by myself than with family or friends.*
I don't talk about my fear of being fat, because everyone tells me I am too thin.*
I'm afraid I won't be able to stop eating if I start.
I get very upset when people urge me to eat.
Sometimes I think that my undereating or overexercising is not normal.*
*More serious signs that suggest components of an eating disorder
No comments:
Post a Comment