GGC - Sexual Health - Supporting Adult Service Users with Relationships, Sexual Health and Sexual Wellbeing - IN DEVELOPMENT
Body image is how we perceive our bodies and how we feel about our physical appearance. It can significantly impact someone's self-esteem and overall mental health. Lots of factors can influence body image such as social media and pornography.
- Having a positive body image means accepting and appreciating your body as it is. Having a negative body image involves feelings of unhappiness or anxiety about appearance.
- Body image image issues can impact both men and women.
Body image refers to:
- How someone sees their own body
- How they feel about their appearance
- What they think about their body's size, shape and weight.
Influences on body image
Social media: Social media platforms are filled with images and posts that often show ideal and edited versions of peoples bodies that might create unrealistic expectations and pressure to look a certain way
Pornography: Pornography isn’t a reflection of real life bodies or sexual experiences. It shows unrealistic body types and sexual performance, which can lead people to have distorted perceptions of their own body and sexual expectations.
Support: If body image issues are significantly affecting someone's mental health they should talk to a health professional about accessing counselling.
Free counselling support in Glasgow
Lifelink: Lifelink 
Further information
Mental Health Foundation: Body Image
Beat Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders Support: Beat Eating Disorders