What do you, as a psychologist, understand by the term “body image”?
It describes the internal image people have of themselves. First, it’s the way we perceive our bodies – and that is not always a perfect reflection of reality. For example, people tend to perceive their noses as larger or their hips as wider than they actually are. But body image also includes the thoughts and feelings, such as fear or shame, that we have about our bodies. Studies show that 72% of the population is dissatisfied with their body or has been at some point. Third, it concerns our behavior: Do we exercise excessively or follow strict diet plans? Do we avoid going to the swimming pool because we fear being judged negatively? Do we constantly look in the mirror or weigh ourselves? Do we choose clothing that covers unflattering areas, or do we retouch selfies before posting them? We refer to such behaviors as “maladaptive”; they can also be an expression of a negative body image. People with a positive body image, on the other hand, treat their bodies with appreciation, love, and acceptance. They value its functionality, treat it with care, often show intuitive eating habits, and filter body-related information in a self-protective manner.
What specific challenges do adolescents face today regarding their physicality?
Adolescents are a particularly vulnerable group. The physical changes during puberty – such as weight gain or changes in body shape – happen together with the search for identity and belonging. At the same time, we live in a society where appearance is highly valued and social advantages are linked to a physically attractive appearance. This creates a subjectively perceived pressure to conform to societal beauty ideals – for girls and young women, usually a very slim, “fit” body ideal; for boys and young men, a muscular, lean body.
You mentioned social norms. What role do social media play in this?
Social media contributes to the spread of societal ideals and their establishment as the norm. On the video platform TikTok, for example, there is the “SkinnyTok” trend, which propagates extremely slim bodies. These images are often edited. Additionally, algorithms prioritize idealized bodies, and once users are in the “rabbit hole,” they don’t see anything else. This can contribute to the internalization of beauty ideals, body dissatisfaction, and the desire for change, which in turn promotes unhealthy eating habits and increases the willingness to undergo cosmetic procedures. The filters provided by social networks to alter one’s appearance also create a virtual ideal self that diverges from one’s actual self. Even offline, there may then be an urge to conform to the online self. Constant optimization through filters and retouching can intensify dissatisfaction in the long term. Likewise, likes and comments increase the pressure to invest money and time in one’s appearance.
Wasn’t it similar in the past, for example during the age of television?
Social media is very accessible and, unlike television or print media, omnipresent. We always have our smartphones at hand. In addition, users don’t just passively consume content: They can actively stage and edit their own appearance. This can trigger self-monitoring, i.e., also “body surveillance,” and affect a person’s body image.
Can so-called “aesthetic surgery” also be helpful for self-esteem?
Studies show that cosmetic procedures can indeed temporarily boost self-esteem. However, the long-term benefits are questionable. Societal ideals and social media consumption are linked to a willingness to undergo cosmetic procedures. However, these procedures involve risks and are not beneficial to health. Many people profit from the existence of these societal ideals and our willingness to invest money and time to live up to them. It would make much more sense to reduce body dissatisfaction that is actually unnecessary.
Speaking of health: How is it related to body image?
In our society, a slim body is automatically considered healthy. Yet health is an incredibly complex field that involves more than just height and weight. As a health psychologist, I focus on how people can develop a healthy relationship with their bodies and how we can work to prevent individuals with risky behaviors from slipping into an eating disorder.
What are the causes of such disorders?
Body dissatisfaction is a major risk factor for eating disorders. However, other factors also play a role in their development, such as genetic predisposition, high levels of perfectionism, pressure to perform, or low self-esteem.
Does the family play a role in the body image that children and adolescents develop?
Family is a central factor. It conveys ideals through language and behavior. If a family member says, “You look great since you lost weight,” this can have a long-term impact on body image by conveying the impression that value and acceptance are measured by body weight. The family also shapes children and adolescents indirectly: They often adopt their parents’ behaviors, such as dieting or self-degrading comments about their own bodies, for example: “Dessert goes straight to my hips.” Such influences often occur unconsciously but are particularly linked to mothers transmitting a negative body image to their daughters. The role of fathers and siblings has been less well researched to date.
You are a psychotherapist in training. How do you approach psychotherapy with people who have a negative body image?
In psychotherapy, a personalized disorder model is developed: How did the disorder develop? What was the body image like within the family context? Additionally, the goal is to identify negative emotions, question obstructive thoughts, and critically examine society’s prevailing ideals of thinness. Exposure exercises using video and mirrors are also common, aimed at reducing avoidance behaviors and shifting the focus to positively perceived body parts.
Can we also do something ourselves to foster a “positive body image”?
A positive body image goes hand in hand with love, appreciation, and acceptance. We’re talking about “body appreciation” here. The aim is not to conform to social ideals of beauty, but to appreciate the body, regardless of appearance, for how it is and what it can do – such as walking, dancing, or breathing. A positive body image also involves perceiving beauty in all its diversity and recognizing that it lies in a person’s individuality and authenticity. Media literacy is also important so that one can filter harmful external influences, for example on social media, and actively reflect on them. Studies show that a positive body image leads to greater well-being. It acts as a protective factor against eating disorders and is often accompanied by intuitive eating, i.e., the ability to pay attention to the body’s internal signals of hunger and fullness, rather than following diet rules or using food to control or process negative emotions. A simple exercise is to spend ten minutes every day writing down what you’re grateful for regarding your body, for example, that you can ride your bike to work in the morning, that you can taste food, or that you can listen to music. How boring life would be without all of this!
This article appeared in the university magazine Portal - Eins 2026 „Inklusion“.