ISSN 2348-3156 (Print) International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3164 (online) Vol. 10, Issue 4, pp: (196-203), Month: October - December 2022, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Psychological, Physical, and Physiological Risks of Pursuing the Ideal Body Type Yoonah Choi Irvine, California, USA DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7199092
Published Date: 14-October-2022
Abstract: Body image is a complex concept that includes many factors such as generation, culture, subculture, country of origin, personal experience, and social expectation. In this day and age of instant gratification and accessibility of information technology, the issues that stem from body image are vast and deep, often leading to dangerous mental and physical health risks, like depression, anxiety, dysmorphia, and eating disorders. The common ideals that are accepted in society today have evolved from what was considered trendy in different eras, like how in the United States, they have phased from having healthy bodies to flat stomachs. In adolescence, teenagers experience a lot of natural physical change while also being exposed to content in social media, making it difficult to not experience body dissatisfaction. Athletes also experience poor body image because in their environment, they are always surrounded by pressure from their peers and mentors. There are many types of beauty standards in different countries and cultures, but they all lead to unhealthy and unnatural strategies in order to meet these standards. For example, China, South Korea, Russia, and Western culture have all established the similar standard that having a slimmer body type is what makes someone beautiful. Manipulating one’s negative mindset to be positive will be difficult, but some things to keep in mind while befriending one’s body is to try and avoid discouraging content on social media and unhealthful ways to lose weight, discuss struggles with friends or professionals, and learn how other people challenged and overcame their body dissatisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to explore all the consequences and risks of pursuing what we refer to as an “ideal body type” in an effort to reduce unhealthy standards and make our way to a more balanced and equitable future. Keywords: body image, mental health, mental illness, body shaming, beauty standards.
I. INTRODUCTION Personally, the idea of body image has always been an interesting topic, as everyone has different views and attitudes about it. Even if negative opinions of our body are somewhat normalized, it is important to know at what point professional help is needed. It is a common, universal idea that having a slim body is the ideal body type, but how did this come to be in the first place? Society today, especially with Covid-19 and quarantine, has heavily relied on social media to escape from the real world and live vicariously through others. Some of the content that can be viewed on social media include pictures of models and pretty influencers, which especially as a teenager, may lead to a lowered self-esteem. Comparing my body has become a natural way of thinking, which is a very negative mindset that I know can be changed with the right resources. If I am experiencing poor body image as a Korean, adolescent female, how is body image viewed in other cultures and parts of the world, or at different ages? I believe learning about body image and its potential risks on mental health and overall wellness can help improve our perspectives. It is time that the toxic environments created online and in person are changed, so that people become more aware and understanding about how people can be different. It is also important to learn and study the risks so that we can resolve pre-existing threats, or recognize and avoid those risks for the future. For some, even if it is difficult to accept that appearance is not essential in daily life, I believe that at the end of the day, our health needs to be prioritized instead. Knowing about the possible dangers can lead our minds into the reality of the effects of negative body image on all aspects of our lives.
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