Understanding the Concept Behind Body Image, Essay Example

Body image is an aspect of seeing one’s physical attributes in relation to how it relates to the value of personal being that they want themselves to be known for. Every individual has a different understanding with regards the importance of body image. Relatively, it could be realized that through time, a person’s understanding of body image changes, especially in relation to how a person lets the society, the family and the media affect such manner of thinking and perception.

As of today, among the three major influences mentioned above that basically affects the perception of individuals regarding body image, media is the one considered to be most powerful. The fashion industry entails to create a distinct picture that the society is likely to give attention to. When it comes to physical attributes, the creation of a perfect body image that most individuals from the market hope to attain becomes the focus of the fashion industry. Mary Kate Olsen, a rising model of her age, negatively presents such perception especially for those living under her same age-range. Being bulimic and all, she hopes to remain slim and somehow sends out the wrong message about the real value of good body image.

True to its sense, the media creates a distinct impact on the mindset of the public with regards body image. This distortion of imagery should however be mandated accordingly. It should create a more specific value on how a person gives importance to how his health is defined by his image and not the other way around. Living a healthy lifestyle and becoming more concerned about one’s well-being is more important than determining the course of how one’s appearance illuminates such positive aspect of being healthy.

Works Cited

Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M.,;Skouteris, H.; McCabe, M.; Mussap, A.; Mellor, D.; Ricciardelli, L. (2012). “An evaluation of equivalence in body dissatisfaction measurement across cultures.” Journal of Personality Assessment (94(4)): 410–417.

Giovannelli, T. S.,; Cash, T. F.; Henson, J. M.; Engle, E. K. (2008). “The measurement of body-image dissatisfaction-satisfaction: Is rating importance important?”. Body Image (5(2)): 216–223.