Body Image

Body Image is the way we view our physical appearance, which is based on a set of complex ideas, judgements and attitudes. It can vary according to the type of situations we are in and how good we are feeling about ourselves on a particular day.

Body Image distress occurs when you have a poor view of how you look, believing that you are not good enough or perfect enough. Anyone who is suffering from an eating disorder will have a poor body image. The level of distress can range from mild to severe.

If you are experiencing any level of body image distress that is interfering with your daily life, then it would be worth spending some time addressing this issue.

Many people wrongly believe that poor body image is connected to weight, however significantly overweight people can have a very positive body image, whereas people who suffer with anorexia certainly do not, no matter how thin they are.

What is your Body Image Distress Score?

Take this test to find out if you are suffering from body image distress. The higher the score the more you are being affected by body image distress. If your score is over 30 you are suffering from considerable distress and would benefit from working intensively on this issue.

0 = never 1= sometimes 2 = moderately 3 = often 4 = always

At social gatherings where I know few people
When I look at myself in the mirror
When I am with attractive persons
When someone looks at parts of my appearance that I dislike
When I try on new clothes
When I exercise
After I have eaten a full meal
When I am wearing revealing clothes
When I get on the scale to weigh
When I think someone has rejected me
When in a sexual situation
When I am in a bad mood
When I think about how I looked when I was younger
When I see myself in a photo or on a video
When I think I've gained weight
When I think about what I wished I looked like
When I recall hurtful things people have said about my appearance
When I am with people who talk about weight or dieting

Positive Body Image

If you would like help to change your poor body image you can achieve this by working through a workbook. A great one is "The Body Image Workbook" by Thomas Cash, taken from our selection of body image books. Alternatively you can book an online counselling session to address your issues.