This week is Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week, headed by the UK’s leading charity helping people with eating disorders, ‘B-eat’.
For a lot of people, eating disorders and low body self-esteem are things that must be hidden from friends and family. However, no one should have to battle negative feelings about body image and eating disorders alone. Especially at university, with hundreds of girls to compare yourself to, it can be easy to lose sight of yourself and what is good about you.
This week, Her Campus has asked a few normal women a probing question in order to get others talking about the issues that so many of us struggle with:
What do you think needs to change to help people (women in particular) think more positively about their body image?
“A more varied demographic of body images in the media rather than just the standard tall and slim”
“I think people need to be shown that everyone comes in different shapes and sizes and to be happy in the body they are in because everyone has some bits better or worse than others but you just have to be realistic and work with what you’ve got”
“Less scrutinizing of womens bodies in the media, for example, calling thin women, ‘curvy’.”
“Better education for young girls in schools, on the ”
“We need to stop judging ourselves on images that aren’t always healthy, like Instagram with all the fitness people. They might be super fit because that’s their job, but more should be done to show people how to live a normal life”
“Portrayal of ‘normal’ sized women in movies would make women feel more comfortable with their body”
“Female role models in the fashion industry should speak out about the reality of poor body image and eating disorders”
Most of those asked felt that women in the media are an unrealistic reflection of the majority of women. By viewing pictures and film of women with thin, athletic figures we have been made to think that it is the most desirable body shape to be.
For all of us ‘non-celebrities’, we can’t usually afford to spend the money or time on achieving the lowest body fat percentage possible. Lucky for us, nor are we in the public eye. I don’t think I’ll be seeing myself in the latest glossy magazine in an article headed “
Shock! Becky visits local corner shop for a late night chocolate splurge!” anytime soon! So with this in mind, I think we can all take the pressure off ourselves a little, and remember that we are normal human beings and not ‘Britains Next Top Model’.
In my own opinion, perhaps if people began to take more notice of the parts of themselves that they like rather than battling with their mind and body, it would create a much more healthy mindset. There are campaigns helping to change our attitudes towards body image such as the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign and increased popularity of hashtags such as #strongnotskinny.
If you know someone struggling with low self-esteem or an eating disorder then don’t be afraid to try to help them. Everyone needs a friend to talk to and it could be the change that helps them recover and get back to full physical and mental health. For information and support visit : www.b-eat.co.uk
images @fastcocreate.com and hercampus.com