Body image and its role in eating disorders

Body image and how people perceive themselves can play a large role in eating behaviors. In many cases, poor body image has been closely associated with eating disorders. An estimated 28.8 million people in the U.S. will experience an eating disorder in their lives. 

Understanding the complex relationship between body image and eating disorders is important for effective treatment. Addressing poor body image through lifestyle changes and professional treatment can be a key step on the road to recovery from an eating disorder or in prevention of an eating disorder. 

Understanding negative body image

When talking about body image, most people think about what they see in the mirror. While this is a part of body image, it’s not the only way people view their bodies. Instead, body image is multidimensional, with various aspects shaping how you think and feel about your body.

The dimensions that form a person’s body image include:

• Perceptual body image: This dimension is one of the most commonly known forms of body image. It’s made up of how you see yourself, whether in the mirror or in your mind. It may not be how you actually look but rather how you perceive you do. 
• Affective body image: Rather than focusing on what you see, affective body image focuses on what you feel. This includes all the feelings you have about your body, whether positive or negative.
• Cognitive body image: This dimension of body image includes what you think and believe about your body. 
• Behavioral body image: When you see, feel, and think a certain way about your body, your behaviors reflect it, in both positive and negative ways. Behavioral body image focuses on how your behaviors relate to how you feel about your body. This can include responses like overexercising and avoiding social situations or participating in activities where you might be judged.

The impact of positive vs. negative body image

Behavioral body image highlights the fact that how you think and feel about your body doesn’t just stay in your head. Instead, your body image can influence nearly every aspect of your life, from your mental well-being to how you interact with others.

Having a positive body image is linked to various mental and physical health benefits. Some of these advantages are:

• Higher self-esteem
• Balanced behaviors focused on well-being
• Lower levels of anxiety and depression

However, just as positive body image has a variety of effects on the body and mind, so can negative body image. This view of oneself may lead to:

• Mental health conditions and concerns, such as anxiety disorders
• Unhealthy behaviors
• Poorer quality of life
• Social isolation and avoidance

Negative body image can also be a significant risk factor for eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. When someone feels poorly about their appearance, they may resort to extreme, unhealthy behaviors such as food restriction and overexercising.

What shapes body image?

A mix of both internal and external factors form your body image. These can shape how you see and feel about yourself, contributing to your overall body image. Here are some factors that play a role in body image:

• Personality traits
• Societal pressures and social media
• Cultural pressure
• Comments from family and friends
• Peer influences
• Personal experiences

Some people may be more inclined to have a negative body image if they display certain traits, such as perfectionism, or have negative experiences with family, peers, and their society or culture. 

How body image issues relate to eating disorders

Negative body image can affect anyone, and the experience is unique to each person. When someone is unhappy with their body, they may resort to unhealthy habits to help them feel better about themselves.

In some cases, people with negative body image may develop eating disorders. This occurs when those who are dissatisfied with how they see and feel about their bodies resort to unhealthy behaviors. These include restrictive or excessive eating and overexercising. 

Just as body image issues may cause eating disorders, eating disorders can contribute to body dissatisfaction. People with an eating disorder may have a distorted perception of their body that may not align with their actual body weight or appearance. 

Different types of eating disorders can cause different perceptions of body image based on their causes and symptoms. Understanding the relationship between body image and specific eating disorders can be an essential element of recovery.

Anorexia nervosa

One of the key characteristics of anorexia is an intense fear of weight gain. People with anorexia may have a distorted body image, often seeing themselves as overweight regardless of their true body weight. 

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is marked by recurrent episodes. People with this eating disorder may experience an episode of binge eating, eating excessive amounts of food in a short amount of time. Then, this is followed by an episode of purging, removing recently consumed food through self-induced vomiting or using laxatives.  

Like with anorexia, those with bulimia may struggle with how they view and feel about their body, leading to this unhealthy cycle as a way to manage or change their weight.

Binge eating disorder

As anorexia and bulimia focus more on perceptual body image, binge eating disorder often stems from affective body image. 

With binge eating disorder, negative body image can cause feelings of dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. Emotional eating may serve as a coping mechanism for dealing with these feelings. However, binge eating also often results in feelings of guilt and shame, further reinforcing negative body image and creating a challenging cycle.

Ways to improve body image

Improving body image is an important step in addressing and treating eating disorders. There are some lifestyle changes you can make to begin your journey to recovery. 

• Mindfulness and self-compassion: These practices can help you focus on the present moment, feel calmer, and escape a cycle of negative thoughts. Self-compassion is associated with benefits like healthy habits, emotional resilience, and building a growth mindset focused on your strengths.  
• Support groups: Finding a community of people who’re familiar with your experience can be a powerful tool in your recovery journey. Research shows that support groups help people with eating disorders feel less alone and motivate them to recover. 
• Professional treatment: It can be hard to address negative body image or an eating disorder without the support of a licensed mental health professional. Therapists who focus on body image and eating disorders often use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can help you challenge negative thought patterns related to body image, food, and self-esteem. 

Find care with Rula

Body image has a big impact on our mental and physical health and can play a role in the development of eating disorders. However, with a combination of lifestyle changes and professional support, it’s possible to build a healthier relationship with your body and food. 

If you or someone you love is navigating a negative body image or an eating disorder, it’s important to know that you’re not alone and support is available. At Rula, our therapist-matching platform can help you conveniently find a therapist who specializes in these conditions. After choosing a therapist that accepts your insurance, you can schedule your first appointment for as soon as this week.

Find a therapist with Rula