Boost Your Body Image

It’s easy to blame your body for being too tall, too short, too squishy, too pale, too insert-your-least-favourite-attribute here. It’s easy, but it’s also unhealthy: Thinking about yourself harshly doesn’t help. (Remember, you don’t think about your friends this way.) So take a moment to embrace your body—to celebrate its strengths, and honour what it has done (and continues to do) for you. Respect who you are and where you are on this journey.

You can learn to appreciate and value your body even as you are working to change it. Studies have indicated that a negative body image at the beginning of a weight-loss journey can impact your success and that a positive body image can lead to a more positive weight-loss experience.1, 2

1 Palmeira, AL, et al. Change in body image and psychological well-being during behavioral obesity treatment: Associations with weight loss and maintenance. Body Image. 2010;7(3):187-193.
2 Carraça EV, et al. Body image change and improved eating self-regulation in a weight management intervention in women. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011;8:75.