BODY IMAGE AMIDST SOCIAL MEDIA

Levels of imagery

How perceptions of body image correlate to social media

Aclear and exact definition of tions do not fully prove time spent on me- According to kidshealth.org from Nebody image, according to the dia platforms causes poor body image or mours Children’s Hospital, giving kids National Eating Disorders Col- disordered eating. compliments to strengthen their self-eslaboration (NEDC), is “a per- Dr. Ginny Ramseyer Winter, assistant teem and teaching them how to maintain son's perception of their physical self and professor at the School of Social Work at a healthy lifestyle that is not centered on the thoughts and feelings, positive, neg- the University of Missouri—Columbia and how they look helps children grow with ative or both, which result from that per- Director of the Center for Body Image Re- healthy behaviors concerning their body ception.” This impression is usually for- search and Policy, said the levels of nega- rather than those induced from exposure to mulated by internal judgements, but can be tive body image can increase or decrease adverse body perception. It said building a impacted by external factors in the process. between different categories of people, mental framework based on positive body

Some of these components include the some of which include women and trans- health at a young age provides a higher views of family members and friends, out- gender individuals. chance of children maintaining that mindside acquaintances, stereotypes highlighted A study published by the National Li- set and thriving as they grow older. by a person's cultural background and in brary of Medicine found about 25% of Dr. Killoren said rather than categorizrecent years, an onslaught of images shared male children and adolescents in the Unit- ing body image as either a positive or negthrough social media. ed States felt dissatisfied with their body, ative concept, research and evidence can

According to the NEDC, much of the while another study published in the Wi- help show when and how it harms people, content spread through the various types of ley Online Library found 50% and 80% of and where it is more neutralized. She said media promotes “unrealistic, unobtainable girls aged 13 and 17, respectively, revealed factors that influence a person’s self-perand highly stylized appearance ideals,” feelings of body dissatisfaction. Females ception are shared throughout a common that “cannot be achieved in real life.’’ It expressed a much larger amount of discon- environment and among close relationadded that people often face feel- ships. ings of dissatisfaction with their "Parents’ body image is assobodies because of standards set by ciated with their children’s body the media, which can lead to both The time someone spends on social media is associated image, particularly for mothers physical and mental health issues with different aspects of body image. Overall, more time and daughters," Dr. Killoren if a person attempts to change to fit on social media is linked to a higher drive for thinness, said. “Friends and romantic partthe created norm. Dr. Sarah Killoren, associate professor at the Department of more disordered eating, more focus on one's appearance and greater body dissatisfaction." ners can also have influence on one another’s body image by engaging in conversations about Human Development and Family Science at the University of Mis- - Dr. Sarah Killoren, associate professor at the their bodies.” Research Dr. Killoren has souri—Columbia, said there are University of Missouri—Columbia looked at has shown that in chilcomparisons between a person's dren and adolescents, television body image and social media based has a large impact on internalon studies that focus on adolescent ized self-representation, alongdevelopment. side family and peers as kids

“The time someone spends on social tent with their bodies. Although the study is enter a school environment. Dr. media is associated with different aspects limited to adolescents, Dr. Winter said peo- Killoren said sometimes teleof body image,” Dr. Killoren said. “Over- ple of all ages can experience the effects of vision influences young all, more time on social media is linked to a having a negative body image. people by “having an higher drive for thinness, more disordered “It is important to note how early this impact on what eating, more focus on one’s appearance and starts,” Dr. Winter said. “Children as young they think is greater body dissatisfaction.” as three can articulate that thin is good and a 'good'

She said, however, it was important to fat is bad; some girls in elementary school note while there are significant correlations are starting to diet, which can severely between social media and body health, impact their growth and developboth physical and mental, these associa- ment.” 20 STORY BY ANJALI NOEL RAMESH / ART BY DEVIN HALL

versus a 'bad' body.”

Media content can become dangerous to users in its impacts on their perceptions of themselves, RBHS nurse Tammy Adkins said. There is a risk of constantly being exposed to content that promotes unhealthy behaviors, and then picking up on and practicing such habits. Adkins said the more negatively people view their bodies, the more damage they can cause themselves in attempts to improve their self esteem and become similar to the bodies they view on a screen.

“A person’s perception of their body can become harmful to themselves,” Adkins said. “Especially if it escalates to the development of eating disorders or episodes of self-harm or suicidal ideations which in turn, change physical and mental health.”

Another possible result of a negative body image is fixating on being thin and comparing oneself with others as a result of lowered self-confidence and depression, Dr. Killoren said. This in turn could lead to an eating disorder and increased body dissatisfaction. Since body image is an internal perception, however, it is susceptible to change as a result of internal and external influences. Dr. Killoren said body image does not have to be a fixed idea, and can fluctuate with time.

“I think that it is possible to help people change the way that they think of their bodies in order to have a more positive body image,” Dr. Killoren said. “For instance, there are researchers at the University of Missouri who have found positive effects of a body image intervention that they tested with college women.”

Although there are negative effects of social media on body image, there can also be positive outcomes.

According to an article by King University, health-based accounts can provide inspiration for individuals to create fitness plans, as well as health and wellness information to give viewers a more positive outlook on their body. Dr. Winter said although social media provides an outlet for all types of media, users can better protect themselves by immersing in constructive, healthy content.

“What I always recommend is to fill your feeds with positive body image influencers,” Dr. Winter said. “Make sure you are seeing posts that support neutral and positive body image and not just negative body image, and unfollow those who are spouting diet culture and negative body image.”

Dr. Winter went on to say body image is both taught directly and shaped from a person’s surroundings. She said the possible consequences that may spring from a person’s negative perception of themselves must therefore be addressed in terms of both environments. “We cannot solve this problem by [only] addressing it at the individual level,” Dr. Winter said. “We must address the societal weight stigma and fatphobia to truly improve body image on a large scale.”