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Body shaming, its effects, and how to overcome them

Mingai Yang , Basis International School ShenZhen

· Winning Essays

Did you know that even celebrities like Taylor Swift had once fallen victim to body shaming? In her documentary, Miss Americana, Taylor Swift recalled her struggle with insecurity and eating disorder because of malicious online comments about her body. If celebrities like her can be affected by negativity on the internet, then what about teens who spend so much time online? Body shaming and its effects are one of the main problems that anyone can encounter, no matter on social media or in real life. It can damage an individual's self-esteem, mental health, and overall well-being. As a society and as individuals, we should have a better understanding of what body shaming is and offer better support to help those who experience body shaming and its effects.

Body shaming is humiliating someone by making inappropriate or negative comments about their body size or shape. Body shaming can happen to people of all ages and gender, but teens tend to be affected the most. A survey by the Obesity Action Coalition (Stevelos, 2011) reported that 58% of high school boys and 63% of high school girls who are medically classified as overweight have experienced daily bullying because of the size or shape of their bodies. These teens might grow to develop mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, and it might follow them throughout their entire lives. The effects of body shaming can affect a person’s everyday life, including their physical health and how they perceive themselves. Body shaming, whether online or in real life, will change how a person sees their own body image, and this will affect how confident they are in real life.

Victims that are exposed to body shaming could develop mental health issues, and many data shows that this is not rare at all. This is especially severe in adolescents, whose minds can be susceptible to external influences. Experiencing body shaming can lead individuals to isolate themselves due to the humiliation felt. They may internalize the hurtful comments, which leads to self-blame and subsequently a decline in self-esteem, self-image, and self-worth, deepening the sense of loneliness and self-pity. Additionally, body shaming can lead to unhealthy eating habits. It can go both ways: eating too much to gain weight or refusing to eat to lose weight. This can put people at risk of suffering from an eating disorder due to the emotional impacts from the victims feeling upset. They might think that it is their own problem and that they need to change to become “likable”. According to Mental Health Organization (“Body image report,” 2023), among teenagers surveyed, 37% felt upset, and 31% felt ashamed about their body image. Among adults, over one-third reported experiencing anxiety (34%) or depression (35%) because of their body image. These statistics underscore the harmful impacts body shaming can have on an individual’s overall well-being, leaving long-lasting repercussions that can persist throughout one’s lifetime.

Many people do not know what to do when they experience body shaming, and they let all the negativities affect them. These people might be misled to believe that they experience body shaming due to their own perceived problems. According to the Girls’ Attitudes Survey (“Social media,” 2016), 94 percent of teenage girls have reported being body shamed and 57 percent of 12-20-year old’s think that the cause of their bullying was due to their appearance. There are barriers that stop a person from seeking help. For example, certain social and cultural ideals might state that there is only one way for someone to look attractive, promoting the “perfect” body type and cause anxiety among people. Certain individuals might actually believe this and feel compelled to conform to this “ideal”. Societies need to strive towards a more inclusive environment, acknowledging that every body type is acceptable. Individuals can also improve their well-being by seeking help. A way to seek help is by contacting a friend or family member who can offer relief and assistance through caring conversations. It might initially be daunting to start these conversations. To overcome this fear, they must realize that the hateful things a person says to them are not their own fault, they should never blame themselves.

Body shaming can happen to anyone anywhere, and it leads to many severe negative consequences. Effects of being body shamed can follow the victim through their entire lives. It affects both adolescents and adults alike, even celebrities like Taylor Swift are not immune to hateful comments about their body. It is urgent to recognize its lasting consequences, and more importantly, we need to help people overcome the life-altering effects of body shaming.

 

 

References

 

Body image report: Excusive Summary. (n.d.). Mental Health Foundation

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/articles/body-image-report- executive-summary

Cox, Janelle. (2022). Body shaming: uncovering it and understanding it. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/health/body-shaming#antidotes-to-body-shaming

Social media: cyberbullying, body shaming, and trauma. (2016). Child Advocacy Center of Lapeer County.

https://caclapeer.org/social-media-cyberbullying-body-shaming-and-trauma/

Stevelos, JoAnn. (2011). BULLYING, Bullycide and Childhood Obesity

https://www.obesityaction.org/resources/bullying-bullycide-and-childhood-obesity/

The weight of words: effects of body shaming on mental health. (n.d.).

https://www.mindshiftwellnesscenter.com/the-weight-of-words-effects-of-body- shaming-on-mental-health/ 

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