Body image is a person’s perception of their own bodies and the thoughts and feelings, critically positive, negative or both, which result from that perception. Everyone has a body image concept. It is a concept that develops and changes throughout life, and it can change a person’s perspective on life and, most of all, on themself. At the same time, it is possible to say that there are many other factors that affect this concept. Some of these factors are in the form of gender, age, body structure, the weight of the person, sensitivity to the body, and parents’ attitudes.
The Formation of Body Perception
If the difference between the person’s own body and the body shape that wants to have is excessive, dissatisfaction with the body may occur. It is possible to see that body image and nutritional problems have become major problems especially in young people who are early adolescence.
Several prominent physical changes occur during puberty and continue during middle adolescence. In particular, it has mostly been observed that the lack of physical satisfaction among girls. This period that we mentioned is the transitional period from childhood to adulthood. It is seen that many young people who are in the transition period apply conscious or unconscious diet methods in order to be leaner, despite the bodyweight considered normal. In a study conducted in our country, it was observed that the age of malnutrition decreased until the age of twelve. The most important point in this situation is the ideal body size determined by society and the desire to reach these measurements. Cosmetics, diets, aesthetic surgical interventions, orthodontic treatments are tools used to having “beautiful” body perception of individuals. It is possible to see people who are fully convinced that they can have the ideal body size by resorting to these ways.
At the same time, the wrong diets and regimens can cause malnutrition and not get enough vitamins. That’s why many people’s health is threatened. As the dissatisfaction with body image increases, the tendency to resort to unhealthy ways to lose weight increased. It was found that body perception, eating habits and health-related disorders are in correlation with each other.
The Concept of Underweight
Especially in western societies, the concept of weakness is frequently used. Beliefs that health and sexual attraction can only be formed by the reflection of underweight are increasing day by day.
Research assumes that being underweight is supposed to represent self-care and strength of will. Being overweight is thought to be embarrassing and an indication of weak willpower. At the same time, in today’s societies, the attraction has become synonymous with the concept of weakness. However, in the past, it seems to have been the opposite. Throughout the years, we see that thoughts and ideas about body perception begin to differ. In fact, when we think logically, the idea that every individual should have the ideal body size is quite unrealistic. For this reason, people embark on to have some negative opinions about their appearance.