Body Positivity Isn’t Always Positive
Not all body-positive messages are created equal, according to this study.
According to a recent study published in Body Image, some of the messages from body positivity can do more harm than good.
The researchers found that body-positive messages can feel pushy (“You have to accept your body or you’ll never be happy”) and have a similar effect to messages that pressure people to be thin (“You need to be smaller to be beautiful”).
That is, they tend to make people feel not good enough. There’s something they need to accomplish to please the world.
On the other hand, there were two types of body-positive messages-autonomy and acceptance-that had the intended effects.
For example:
- Autonomy: “You’re the author of your own happiness. It’s up to you to be you.”
- Acceptance from others: “There are lots of people out there who appreciate you just the way you are. See yourself through their eyes.”
In the study, these two types of messages:
- helped improve body image
- evoked feelings of body acceptance and empowerment
- increased self-esteem
The bottom line: If body-positive messages make you feel worse, you’re not alone.
This study shows how not one size fits all and that intentions don’t mean everything. Just because the message was well-intended, it doesn’t mean that it will work the way it was planned and that’s okay.
Everyone is different, even if you share something in common with others. We don’t function the same way. So don’t feel bad if the idea of “body positivity” doesn’t work for you.
One strategy that could help:
Do a social media audit, and research anyone who delivers “tough love” about body positivity from their feed.
And if you can’t avoid them? The awareness could be enough for you to reframe these messages in your head — or disregard them altogether.
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Reference:
Legault L, Sago A. When body positivity falls flat: Divergent effects of body acceptance messages that support vs. undermine basic psychological needs. Body Image. 2022 Jun;41:225–38.
