How – and why – to embrace body positivity

Learning how to have, and teach others, about body positivity is important for communities, parents, guardians, and educators alike. The Body Image Fact Sheet has a lot of information that everyone can benefit from. Here are outlined key actions to take to create a body positive environment.

Key actions to incorporate in your day-to-day life:

1. Avoid connecting food, eating or activity to body size
2. Avoid talking about our own, or other people’s body size or weight. Even positive comments can reinforce certain ideas we have about bodies.
3. Learn more about who gains when we feel bad about our bodies (i.e., the diet and weight loss industry)
4. Disassociate weight loss from healthy living activities, such as eating and exercise
5. Remind ourselves and our friends, family, and colleagues that all bodies, no matter their shape, size, or ability, have inherent value

University of British Columbia doctorate and psychologist Kaylee Misener is an expert in positive body image. Her research focuses on clarifying what it means to have a positive body image, and how to get it. 

Kaylee’s tips:

1. Respect your body. Protect and accept your body by rejecting unrealistic media images and accept your body despite perceived imperfections. Learn more about media literacy.
2. What are you giving up? What would you rather be doing than feeling bad about your body? Focus on enjoyment, movement, and functionality.
3. Self-compassion is a skill – be your own best friend and champion
4. Self-compassion is self-kindness + common humanity + mindfulness, which helps us stay in the moment without evaluation
5. Keep good company – surround yourself with body positive people and influences

At IH there are programs with Registered Dietitians that help people of all age (especially youth) work on developing a positive body image and body neutrality.

• Get free trusted advice from a dietitian by calling 8-1-1 or contact a dietitian online at www.healthlinkbc.ca/dietitian (anywhere in BC). Interpreters are available in over 130 languages.
• A physician or Nurse Practitioner can refer people to outpatient programing and eating disorder treatment services in Interior Health
• Private practice dietitians can be found using the find a dietitian page on Dietitians of Canada site

• Raising Kids with a Healthy Body Image
• National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) offers a hotline, can connect to treatment resources, offers awareness and prevention information
• Embody offers many prevention and awareness resources
• To learn more about Interior Health’s recommendations for nutrition, visit our nutrition and food security page.

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