“Body image is how you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in your mind. It encompasses what you believe about your own appearance, how you feel about your body, how you sense and control your body as you move, and how you feel in your body, not just about your body.” (National Eating Disorder Association, 2016)
The resources below provide more information about positive and negative body image, recognizing the differences between body image concerns and eating disorders, and what you can do to address both.
- What is Body Image? (National Eating Disorders Association)
- What is an Eating Disorder? (The Emily Program)
Resources
10 Principles of Intuitive Eating
Intuitive eating is an evidence-based, self-care eating framework consisting of 10 principles created by registered dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch.
About Face
An about-face is a reversal of direction, attitude, or point of view. This organization equips women with tools to understand and resist harmful media messages that affect their self-esteem and body image.
The Emily Program
The Emily Program is nationally recognized for its compassionate, evidence-based approach to eating disorder treatment and lifelong recovery. The Emily Program understands the tangled complexities of eating disorders, often from personal experience. Know that you’re not defined by your eating disorder, and The Emily Program’s team of experts — including therapists, dietitians, and medical staff — focuses on treating the whole person.
Fostering a Positive Self-Image
This resource reviews how we create our self-image and ways to improve that self-image.
Male Body Image
Body image isn’t just a topic for women; men can struggle with body image, too. This resource is meant to support positive self-image among guys.
NEDA Hotline
The National Eating Disorders Association Hotline.
Podcast: Mind Body Musings
In this podcast, you’ll hear interviews from people who share their wisdom on the topics of intuition, self-care, body positivity, dreams, mindsets, living with total freedom, worthiness, facing fear, becoming rejection-proof, spirituality, and living with a purpose bigger than yourself.
TedTalk: Looks Aren’t Everything
Cameron Russell admits she won “a genetic lottery”: she’s tall, pretty and an underwear model. But don’t judge her by her looks. In this fearless TED Talk, she takes a wry look at the industry that had her looking highly seductive at barely 16 years old.
YouTube: Eating Disorders on Campus
Eating disorder experts share insights and resources for students who care about making a difference in the fight against eating disorders on college campuses.
Recovery Record: This is an eating disorder management tool, and a smart companion for managing your journey to recovery from eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. This app is also intended for people with general eating, weight, and shape concerns. Available for download free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Rise Up + Recover: This is the app for you if you’re struggling with food, dieting, exercise, or body image. Rise Up + Recover is based on self-monitoring homework, a cornerstone of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and provides users a wide range of resources to build a strong recovery warrior mindset. Available for download free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.