What Are Your Body Beliefs?

"These beliefs don't just shape how we see our own bodies; they also get projected onto other people's bodies. Without realizing it, many of us internalize cultural stories like "larger bodies are lazy," "thin people are more disciplined," or "some bodies are inherently better or more worthy than others." These narratives quietly dictate how we interpret health, morality, attractiveness, and even someone's character-all before we consciously notice what's happening."

"They shape how we feel getting dressed in the morning, how we eat, how we move, and how we imagine others see us. They influence how safe we feel in our own skin. Yet many of these beliefs are so familiar, so culturally reinforced, that we rarely pause to examine where they came from, whether they're true, or whether we even want to keep them."

"Our body beliefs don't emerge out of nowhere. They are shaped by: Family messages: The comments you heard growing up-about your body or someone else's-often become internal rules. Cultural expectations: A society obsessed with thinness, discipline, and self-surveillance teaches us what bodies should look like and what they supposedly mean. Medical systems: A focus on BMI, weight-centric health advice, and blame-based narratives about personal responsibility can solidify shame."

Many people carry unspoken body beliefs absorbed from family, culture, medical systems, and peers. These beliefs shape self-image, clothing choices, eating, movement, and perceptions of others, including assumptions linking body size to moral character, discipline, or worth. Cultural narratives and weight-centered medical advice frequently reinforce shame and narrow definitions of health. Familiar comments and social expectations often become internal rules that operate unconsciously. Examining the origins of these beliefs makes it possible to question their accuracy, choose which beliefs deserve ongoing influence, and intentionally redefine body beliefs toward healthier self-relations.

Read at Psychology Today