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Body Image Issues

Definition

Body image issues refer to a person's negative thoughts and feelings about their own body and physical appearance. This can lead to low self-esteem, unhealthy eating habits, and mental health disorders like depression or anxiety.

Analogy

Imagine looking at yourself in a distorted mirror at a funhouse. If you took that reflection as reality, you'd have an inaccurate perception of your actual appearance. That's what happens with body image issues - people see themselves differently than how they actually appear.

Related terms

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): A psychological disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with imaginary defects in their appearance.

Anorexia Nervosa: An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image which leads to self-imposed starvation.

Bulimia Nervosa: Another eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting (purging), fasting, or over-exercising.