Am I Obsessed With My Appearance?

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Check yourself to know if you are obsessed?
  1. Which statement best describes how you feel?
    • I am never satisfied with how I look.
    • I am sometimes satisfied with how I look.
    • I am always satisfied with how I look.
  2. What would you like to change most about your body?
    • Height
    • Weight
    • Body shape
    • Hair
    • Complexion
    • Muscle size
    • Other
  3. Complete the following sentence.
I feel most insecure about my body . . .
    • when I get on the scale.
    • when I look in the mirror.
    • when I compare myself with others (friends, fashion models, movie stars).
  1. Complete the following sentence.
I weigh myself . . .
    • daily.
    • weekly.
    • less often than once a week.
  1. Which expression best describes your feelings?
    • Negative body image. (Example:  A teen said “Every time I look in the mirror, I think that I see an obese, hideous figure. I’ve even starved myself in an effort to lose weight.” Do you feel the same way?)
    • Balanced body image. (Example: A teen said “There’s always going to be something we don’t like about our appearance, but some things we just need to accept. It’s silly to be anxious about something we can’t change.” Do you feel the same way?)
It’s proper—even necessary—to think about yourself to a degree. That’s why, for example, you brush your teeth and give attention to your hygiene.
What, though, if you frequently get discouraged over your body image—perhaps to the point of being obsessed about it? If that’s the case, you might wonder . . .

 ‘Why do I have a negative body image?’
There could be several reasons. These include:
  • Influence of the media. “Young people are bombarded with images that make us feel that we have to be superskinny and gorgeous at all times. As a result, if we’re anything less than perfect, we feel disgusting!”— says a teen named Kellie.
  • Influence of parents. “I’ve noticed that if a mother is obsessed with her body image, often the daughter views herself the same way. It can be the same with fathers and sons.”—says a teen named Rita.
  • Low self-esteem. “People who are obsessed with their body image constantly demand positive reinforcement from others about how they look. It gets tiring to be around that!”— says a teen named Jeanne.
The bottom line: Do what you can to look your best. But don’t worry about the rest. Being overly concerned about how you look can be dangerous.
On the other hand, a balanced attitude will help you view yourself realistically, as a young woman named Erin learned. “Sure, I have insecurities,” she says, “but I notice that I feel bad only when I focus on the wrong things. Now I just exercise regularly and eat right. The rest falls into place naturally.”

 The best makeover ever!
When you have a balanced view of your body image, you will feel (and even look) your best. 

 Learn from Julia’s Story
When I was 16, I had major issues with my weight. I’ve never been overweight, but I’m not naturally skinny either. I was curvy. I thought that just maybe, if I were slender, guys would like me. So I almost starved myself in order to achieve the body I wanted.
I got skinny, but I ended up with health problems as a result. These were addressed, but the emotional effects are still there. To this day, I have issues with food. I’ve slowly come to terms with my body. I eat right and exercise. But when I’m upset with myself about something, my automatic reaction is to punish myself by not eating.
If I could, I would tell other young people to remember that everyone has a different perspective. No matter what you look like, there will always be some people who think you’re attractive and others who don’t. The important thing is that you’re healthy. That’s what matters to those who truly care about you.
Source: young people ask

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