We often think of body image in terms of physical appearance, attractiveness and beauty. But it's so much more. Body image is an awareness of your body and the thoughts, feelings and sensations you have.

A Positive body image is:

• Seeing your body as it really is
• Appreciating the natural shape of your body and your physical characteristics
• Understanding that appearance says very little about the kind of person you are
• Feeling proud of your body and refusing to spend time worrying about how much food you eat, your weight, the shape or your body or your features (for example, the colour of your skin, the texture of your hair, etc.)
• Feeling comfortable and confident in your body.

A Negative body image is:

• Having a distorted perception about your body shape and size
• Being convinced that only other people are attractive
• Feeling ashamed and self-conscious about how you look
• Feeling uncomfortable and awkward in your body
• Being obsessed with how you look (for example, constantly worrying about how your hair and make-up look, thinking negatively about the size and shape of your body all the time).

Everybody is Different

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