“A flower does not think of competing with the other flowers next to it. It just blooms.”
Eating disorders can affect anyone at virtually any age. This is becoming all the more worrisome due to the increasing prevalence of social media, especially among our children. It’s estimated that children under the age of 18 will spend up to 7.5 hours each day on social media. But people of all ages engage in the same habits that can affect our body image. In fact, up to 42 percent of women have felt worse about their bodies because of social media sites.
But it isn’t just women. Recent reports also estimate that body dissatisfaction in men has more than tripled in the last 30 years. Combined, the Huffington Post has found that 60 percent of all people between the ages of 28 and 73 have witnessed declining self-esteem as a result of using social media. Between “thinspiration” sites and the pervasiveness of photoshop apps and sites, more people than ever are holding themselves up to an impossible idea of beauty.
This is more than just trying to lose weight, too. A growing number of people are ruminating over perceived problems with their freckles, their dimples, their hair, and their stretch marks. It just goes to show that the road to body positivity is bumpier than ever.
These might be scary statistics, but these facts are necessary to share in the fight against body negativity. Instead of putting ourselves down, we need to start talking about the importance of body positivity. It isn’t always easy to think of our bodies in a kind way, but this is the only way to improve your self-image and stop comparing yourself to other people.
After all, your body is capable of amazing things. It can take you new places, learn new things, and showcase some of the most beautiful aspects of your life in the form of marks, tattoos, and more. It’s the unique aspects of your body that make you beautiful.
On your journey toward body positivity, it’s essential to remember that every body is a beautiful body. Here are some of the top ways you can promote body positivity in yourself and in your loved ones.
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