Own Your Body
Life Positive|August 2023 issue
The proliferation of social media and the homogenisation of beauty have given rise to a global epidemic of dissatisfaction with the body, with grave consequences, particularly for youngsters. How can we overcome this universal malaise and develop a healthy body image? Navni Chawla explores.
Navni Chawla
Own Your Body

"I have struggled with my body. Sometimes, I feel insecure in my own skin. There is no gap between my thighs, which is something the media keeps harping on. That makes me feel like I am not normal or beautiful," shares Shubha Sharma, a Delhi-based 16-year-old school student. Sara Jain, 20, a college student from Delhi, shared that her weight fluctuated so much that stretch marks developed on different parts of her body, namely, the legs, hips, and waist, making her diffident about wearing shorts and skirts. Rohan Gambhir, 23, a software engineer at Infosys, Bangalore, shares, "I have become an angry person because of my baldness. I started losing hair very early in life, and my parents did not pay attention to it. Now, I need to go through painful hair transplant treatments. Else, I will have to live looking like this, which is also painful."

Do you have a habit of obsessively checking your body by looking into the mirror frequently or weighing yourself constantly? Does thinking about food and exercise worsen your mood? Do you wear loose or oversized clothes to camouflage your body? Do you often compare your body with others and feel unhappy? When you look in the mirror, do you always see flaws that need fixing? If the answer to all these questions is yes, then you struggle with how you perceive your body. How you see your body and the feelings you associate with that perception forms your body image. According to a survey conducted by the Be Real Campaign, about one in three young people are reported to have serious concerns about their appearance. A positive body image establishes a healthy relationship with one's body. Poor body image or body dissatisfaction leads to a higher rate of eating and mood disorders in individuals. Research shows that women experience more body dissatisfaction than men.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM LIFE POSITIVEView all
Miracles of Mount Maunganui
Life Positive

Miracles of Mount Maunganui

A hike to Mount Maunganui in New Zealand filled Rashi Bunny with a sense of awe and wonder equivalent to witnessing the glory of the Divine Himself

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2024
Navigating Your 20s: A Simple Guide
Life Positive

Navigating Your 20s: A Simple Guide

By embracing the tumultuous journey through her 20s, Abhilasha Srivastava learnt to triumph over the challenges encountered and carve the path for her future

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2024
Inducing Sweet Slumber
Life Positive

Inducing Sweet Slumber

As we are well aware, lack of sound sleep can give rise to physical and mental problems. To ensure a good night's rest, you could follow the suggestions given by Jamuna Rangachari in the next few pages

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2024
Days for the Divine
Life Positive

Days for the Divine

Guided by her mentor Megha Bajaj, Meghana Acharya sends positive vibes into the Universe to ensure the well-being and success of others

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2024
Voices from the beyond
Life Positive

Voices from the beyond

Near-Death Experiences (NDES) have long fascinated humanity-a glimpse beyond the veil, a sneak peek into the unknown that pulsates with wonders, mysteries and intrigue. Jamuna Rangachari takes us through the narrations of a few who went to the other side and returned to share in great detail what they experienced and how it transformed them

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 2024
All for the best
Life Positive

All for the best

An academic disaster turned opportunity led Rajeev Hallur to understand the jigsaw puzzle of life, initially incomprehensible to most of us

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2024
Many Lives, One Master
Life Positive

Many Lives, One Master

Dr Bijal Maroo probes into the enigmatic charisma of Swami Omkaranandaji to discover the story behind his uncanny healing powers

time-read
9 mins  |
September 2024
Modern art with a tribal touch
Life Positive

Modern art with a tribal touch

Gautam Bharati and Avani Jain, based in Dungarpur, Rajasthan saw the incredible ability and passion of tribals for arts and decided to do something about it.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
Laugh your way to health
Life Positive

Laugh your way to health

Rupa Bannur, a former IT professional turned holistic health coach from Bangalore began turning to laughter yoga in 2001 after she faced profound loss of precious family members.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
Healing Hands
Life Positive

Healing Hands

When Rupesh Budh Ahmedabad from was 15 years of age, he learnt meditation from his martial arts (Karate) teacher. His teacher also introduced him to Reiki as a healing modality that can cure with just a touch. He told him that advanced Reiki practitioners can cure even from a distance without touching.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024