Risk and protective factors for eating, weight, and body image problems
How dissatisfied with your body are you?
Body dissatisfaction is a matter of how much you dislike your body. At worst, a person may have feelings of body hatred. At best, a person can accept and take full ownership for her or his genetically-determined body. See which level below best describes where you are in relationship to your body.
Best: Body ownership*
Body acceptance
Body preoccupied
Disturbed body
Body hatred
1. Body ownership: "I feel good about my body and what it can do. My body is beautiful to me. I reject society's narrow definition of thinness (or muscularity) as the only ideal body shape. I believe that healthy and beautiful bodies come in all sizes and shapes. I know that the significant others in my life will always find me attractive."
2. Body acceptance: "I base my body image equally on social norms and my own self-concept. I pay attention to my body and appearance because it is important but it only occupies a small part of my day. I nourish my body so that it has strength and energy to achieve my physical goals."
3. Body preoccupied/obsessed: "I spend significant amounts of time viewing my body in the mirror. I spend a significant amount of time comparing myself to others. Many days I feel fat. I'd be more attractive if I was thinner, more muscular, etc."
4. Disturbed body image: "I don't see anything positive about my body shape or size. I believe my body keeps me from dating or finding someone who will treat me the way I want."
5. Body hatred: "I hate my body and I isolate myself from others. I don't believe it when others say I look OK."*
*adapted from Cornell Healthy Eating Program (CHEP) brochure (2003) "The eating issues and body image continuum": Cornell Healthy Eating Program (CHEP, 2003) from Cornell University Health Services: www.gannett.cornell.edu.
