How Much Does Poor Body Image Affect Mental Health?
别让身材焦虑压垮了你的情绪
Like it or not, most of us are aware of how we look.We have all had a bad hair day, or worried whether we are wearing the right clothes for a particular event.
How much does our body image trouble us as we get older?
Statistics by the charity the Mental Health Foundation (MHF), show that poor body self-image can affect all ages, not just younger people, and the reactions it can trigger range from anxiety and self-disgust.
The figures, revealed to coincide with the body image theme of national Mental Health Awareness Week, follow a YouGov poll of 4,505 UK adults.It found that 57% of 18- to 24-year-olds surveyed admit to having felt anxious because of their body image, compared with 30% of 45- to 54-year-olds and 20% of over 55s.
While puberty is notoriously stressful, there are other times in our lives when we might worry about our image, such as during pregnancy or the menopause – or when our hairline starts to recede or we need to use a walking stick.
Having concerns about how you look is not, in itself, a mental illness, according to the MHF.“However, it can be a risk factor for mental health problems,” its spokesperson says.
Research suggests that higher body dissatisfaction is associated with poorer quality of life, psychological distress and risk of unhealthy eating behaviours and eating disorders.
Tom Quinn, director of external affairs at eating disorder charity Beat, says people who are dissatisfied with their body image are at higher risk of developing an eating disorder.“This is only one of many factors that can lead to the development of these serious mental illnesses,” he says.So how can we start to tackle an issue that is so ingrained in our society?
While the causes for eating disorders are complex and many factors are involved, being surrounded by images of “perfect” bodies can distort how a person sees themselves.
And celebrity culture and social media strongly contribute to and exacerbate the issue.
There is social media and unrealistic models on Instagram, and it’s all contributing to the pressure on young people and their mental health, and how they see their bodies.
The trouble is that people’s body image is constantly being discussed everywhere – on television, screens, magazines.And if you’re somebody who’s vulnerable, it’s really easy to snap into a very low mood and think dieting may be the answer.
Medical care is not always there, or easily accessible either, he says, despite eating disorders being serious mental illnesses that require professional support.
“Telling someone ‘you look good, have you been on a diet’ or ‘you don’t look that old, tell me your secret’ only reinforces our obsession with body image,” he says.
He also suggests complaining if you do not like body images you see in the media, particularly where the photo has been retouched.“And don’t just talk about looks when you meet a friend.Instead, ask them how they’ve been,” he says.
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