BLG Health-Dr Joyce Brothers on Body Image

Dr. Joyce Brothers
(c) 2009 by King Features Syndicate

Wednesday October 28, 2009

    * Quiz Topic: Body Image
    * New Healthy Life Daily Videos

Quiz Topic: Body Image
Dr. Joyce Brothers

Body image -- or our perception of how our body looks -- is important not only from a health perspective, but also because a healthy body image goes hand in hand with high self-esteem and self-respect. Unfortunately, there are many people -- both men and women -- out there who have a very unhealthy perception of their body. This quiz will test your knowledge of body-image issues.

1. Your body image can differ dramatically from your actual physical health or condition and from the way others perceive you.

TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

2. If you can lose weight, you will be able to accept yourself, and others will be able to accept you as a person.

TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

3. Men are susceptible to body-image issues, and they can be dissatisfied with their bodies, just like women can be.

TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

4. Constantly comparing yourself to an idealized person -- whether real or imaginary -- can lead to a negative body image, and does not actually make you healthier.

TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

5. People with a healthy body image never feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about the shape or size of their bodies.

TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

6. If Barbie were life-size, she would stand 5 feet 9 inches and weigh 110 pounds, with measurements of 39-18-33, and she would not menstruate due to inadequate levels of fat on her body.

TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

7. If a person is overweight, it means that he or she has bad eating habits, doesn't exercise and generally is in a state of poor health and fitness.

TRUE ( ) FALSE ( )

ANSWERS:

1. TRUE. Your body image is how you perceive your own body. This is your brain's interpretation of your body, and it can be right on the mark or completely unrelated to your actual physical condition. The important thing about body image is recognizing and respecting your natural, healthy shape and learning to overpower the negative and counterproductive thoughts you inevitably will have about your body.

2. FALSE. While it is easy to base our self-worth on our external appearance -- since that is the first thing people see -- it is not how others judge our worth, nor is it how we should judge our own. Whether you are overweight or not, convincing yourself that there is something wrong with you that causes others to not accept you is unhealthy.

3. TRUE. Many men are unhappy with their bodies, and wish to be more muscular than they are -- or perhaps than they can be naturally. This may be linked to ideas about masculinity, and can start in childhood. Early in life, boys are subject to unrealistic body shapes and sizes, just like girls are -- through cartoons and even playing with super-muscular action figures.

4. TRUE. Many people strive to be as thin or beautiful as a model, celebrity or even a version of themselves that they carry in their imagination. While an occasional comparison can be motivational, constantly comparing yourself to someone else is only discouraging and damaging. Instead, focus on something positive about your body when you think about it.

5. FALSE. Everyone has bad days or awkward and embarrassing experiences. People with a positive body image see the various parts of their body as they really are, and are able to appreciate the shape and features of their body. They understand that a person's physical appearance shows little about his or her value as a person, and they feel comfortable and confident in their body.

6. TRUE. Unrealistic body shapes like Barbie are reinforced every day through the media. And while the media are not entirely to blame for setting unrealistic body expectations for women (and men as well -- just take a look at Wolverine or Batman in the movies), it certainly does not help if you are already unhappy with your body. If you're skeptical, try giving up media -- especially pop-culture media -- for a week, and see how you feel.

7. FALSE. While weight measurements may indicate general health status, they don't always. There are many people who eat a healthy diet, exercise and are in good health (based on clinical tests like optimal blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels), but are still larger and considered overweight. Conversely, there are plenty of people who are considered a healthy weight but eat badly, don't exercise and have poor overall health. The important thing is that everyone is built differently, and you should strive for health, not a number on the scale.

If you were able to answer six out of the eight questions correctly, you know your way around body image issues and how to cope with them to become a healthier you!

(c) 2009 by King Features Syndicate



Presented By Larry Guzda


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