“Body image is part of self-image. Our body image includes
more than what we look like or how others see us.
It also refers to how we think, feel, and react to…”.1
Body Image
What is body image?
Depending on the Source (DotS) the definition of body image may vary. The (United Kingdom) Mental Health Foundation’s (MHF) definition is:
“‘Body image’ is a term that can be used to describe how we think and feel about our bodies”.2
Self-Image
What is body image a part of?
The (United States) Cleveland Clinic’s note:
“Body image is part of self-image. Our body image includes more than what we look like or how others see us. It also refers to how we think, feel, and react to our own perception of our physical attributes”.3
Poor Body Image
What is poor body image?
In Body Image Report: Introduction – What Is Body Image? the MHF explain:
“Often, when we talk about ‘poor body image, we are referring to a feeling of being unsatisfied with our body – either because of appearance or the way it functions. This is described as ‘body dissatisfaction. In contrast, positive body image can be described as being satisfied with our body, holding respect, appreciation and accepting of its abilities, and having a healthy balance between valuing our body and valuing the other aspects of ourselves that make us ‘us’”.4
Factors
What factors shape and influence our body image?
In Body Image: What Is Body Image? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health’s (JH) elaborate on:
“From childhood through adolescence and on to adulthood, your body shape changes and so can your body image”.5
In Fostering A Positive Self-Image: What Is Body Image? the Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:
“Body image development is affected by cultural images and the influence of family, peers, and others. A positive body image contributes to enhanced psychological adjustment (less depression, positive self-worth, life satisfaction, less interpersonal anxiety, fewer eating disorders). Distortions in our thinking contribute to a negative body image”.6
In Body Image: What Affects Body Image? the JH also elaborate on:
- Personality
- Health
- Illness and disease
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Self-esteem (whether you value and respect yourself)
- Childhood experiences
- How important people in your life talk about and refer to your body (and their body too)
- Media
- Society and culture
- Self-talk – what are you saying or not saying to yourself about your body image (does it start with “I should”… “I ought”… “I must”… or “I wish”…?)”.7
Menopause Body Image
Is there an association between menopause and body image?
The JH note:
“Many women approaching midlife find that changes to their body, lifestyles and relationships can affect the way they feel about themselves”.8
Enhance Body Image
What are specific steps to enhance body image?
In Fostering A Positive Self-Image: Specific Steps To Enhance Body Image the Cleveland Clinic include:
- “Explore your personal body-image with its strengths and limitations
- Confront thinking distortions related to your body
- Challenge misleading assumptions about body appearance
- Accept and love who you are
- Be comfortable with your body
- Have positive experiences with your body
- Be a friend to your body with positive affirmations”.9
Health Care Provider
What if I would like help with my body image?
If you would like help with your body image, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Together you can discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause Body Image?
In Health Topics A-Z find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Menopause Body Image?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- Anxiety
- Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
- Benefits of Talking Therapies
- Body Image
- Body Image Report: Introduction
- Body Image: How We Think and Feel About Our Bodies
- Botox
- Botox Injections
- Can I Reverse the Effects of Aging Skin?
- Confidence
- Cosmetic Procedures
- Cosmetic Procedures: Breast Enlargement [Implants]
- Cosmetic Procedures: Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
- Cosmetic Procedures: Is Cosmetic Surgery Right for Me?
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
- Dr. Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
- Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences – Overview
- Emotions: Body Image
- Feeling Irritable? Why You’re Irritated and What To Do About It
- Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
- Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
- Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
- Fostering A Positive Self Image
- Fostering A Positive Self-Image: Specific Steps To Enhance Body-Image
- How To Combat Menopausal Weight Gain | This Morning
- Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing [+ Video: Menopause Only Affects You Physically!]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
- Let’s Talk About Menopause | Aware Webinar
- Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
- Maintaining Your Weight and Health During and After Menopause
- Mastering Midlife Mood Changes With Marlene Freeman, MD
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video]
- Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Menopausal Symptoms: Mood Disorders and the Menopausal Transition
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause Explained
- Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
- Menopause Mindfulness: A Personal Toolkit for Menopause Preparedness
- Menopause Mindfulness: Embracing the Change of My Midlife
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos: 5]: – 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause Wellness
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Mindfulness & Wellbeing During the Menopause Transition
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
- Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
- Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
- Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
- Mental & Emotional Wellbeing: Body Image
- Mental & Emotional Wellbeing: Confidence [+ Video]
- Mental Health
- Mental Health: Mental Health Self Help Guides
- Mindfulness
- Mindfulness Exercises
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
- Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- Perimenopause
- Preparing for Menopause
- Resilience: Build Skills To Endure Hardship – Resilience and Mental Health: A Very Happy Brain [Video]
- Self-Care and Kindness: Finding A Solution To the Trigger of Our Anxiety
- Self-Esteem: Take Steps To Feel Better About Yourself
- Self-Help Tool: Menopause and Mental Wellbeing
- Supporting A Loved One Through Menopause
- Supporting Women Through Menopause – Fact Sheet
- Taking Care of Your Mental Health
- The Association Between Sexual Function and Body Image Among Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
- Top Tips To Improve Your Mental Wellbeing
- Transformations: The Mental Health Issues That Can Accompany Menopause Often Go Unaddressed
- Types of Talking Therapies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
- Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
- Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
- Video Series-2022: Wellness: What Is It?
- Video: Researchers Emphasize Normalization of Menopause
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: How Do I Ideal With the Menopause After A Diagnosis of Gynecological Cancer?
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
- Webinars: Previous – To Sleep, Perchance To Dream
- What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
- What Is Menopause?
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Fostering A Positive Self-Image – What Is Body Image? This Document Was Last Reviewed on: 24 November 2020. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/healthy_living/hic_Stress_Management_and_Emotional_Health/hic_Fostering_a_Positive_Self-Image Accessed: 05 February 2023
- Body Image Report: Introduction – What Is Body Image? Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/body-image-report/intro Accessed: 05 February 2023
- Fostering A Positive Self-Image – What Is Body Image? This Document Was Last Reviewed on: 24 November 2020. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/healthy_living/hic_Stress_Management_and_Emotional_Health/hic_Fostering_a_Positive_Self-Image Accessed: 05 February 2023
- Body Image Report: Introduction – What Is Body Image? Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/body-image-report/intro Accessed: 05 February 2023
- Mental & Emotional Wellbeing – Body Image: What Is Body Image? Last Updated: 14 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 10 March 2014. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/mental-emotional-health/body-image Accessed: 05 February 2023
- Fostering A Positive Self-Image – What Is Body Image? This Document Was Last Reviewed on: 24 November 2020. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/healthy_living/hic_Stress_Management_and_Emotional_Health/hic_Fostering_a_Positive_Self-Image Accessed: 05 February 2023
- Mental & Emotional Wellbeing – Body Image: What Affects Body Image? Last Updated: 14 January 2020 | Last Reviewed 10 March 2014. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/mental-emotional-health/body-image Accessed: 05 February 2023
- Mental & Emotional Wellbeing – Body Image: Menopause & Body Image. Last Updated: 14 January 2020 | Last Reviewed 10 March 2014 Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/mental-emotional-health/body-image Accessed: 05 February 2023
- Fostering A Positive Self-Image: Specific Steps To Enhance Body-Image. This Document Was Last Reviewed on: 24 November 2020. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/healthy_living/hic_Stress_Management_and_Emotional_Health/hic_Fostering_a_Positive_Self-Image Accessed: 05 February 2023