Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors are dangerous conditions, and they’re on the rise. (1) A number of factors contribute to the development of eating disorders, including psychological, biological, and environmental considerations. But an issue that’s gaining increasing attention is body shaming.
A form of bullying, this behavior is a double-edged sword, working to both target and torment individuals and advance negative ideas about body weight in general. But there are ways to combat this behavior and stop the spread of its harmful effects.
What is Body Shaming?
There is no official definition of body shaming, but the behavior is generally understood to be a form of bullying specifically centered around a person’s body weight, shape, or size. It typically involves repeated, discriminatory attitudes, thinking, behavior, and/or feelings towards people with certain body types, weights, or features.
Body shaming can come in many forms, including teasing, physical bullying, or attempts to isolate or humiliate someone. It can be more subtle, such as incessant suggestions or comments from friends, family, or even doctors about weight. It can also occur online in the form of cyberbullying or trolling.
And body shaming can happen anywhere, including:
- At school
- At home
- In the workplace
- At the doctor’s office
- On social media or anywhere online
- In a public location
Sadly, the issue seems to be particularly prominent among adolescents and in school settings, with 25% of students in one study reporting body shaming incidents from peers or family members and up to 37% saying they experienced at least one incident of the behavior over their lifetime. (2)
Why is Body Shaming Harmful?
Body shaming has ravaging downstream impacts on individuals and can lead to a number of harmful effects, both mentally and physically.
People who experience body shaming have been found to be at higher risk of body dissatisfaction and eating disorder behaviors. This connection is especially strong in adolescent girls and young women. (2) The behavior has also been tied to a greater risk of depression for those who experience it. (3)
Experiencing body shaming can also lead someone to internalize these harmful views. This can lead to negative body talk or self-imposed negative comments about one’s appearance. This behavior has also been tied to disordered eating behaviors, and an incredible 93% of girls and women from middle school through college reportedly engage in negative body talk throughout their lifetime. (4)
But body shaming doesn’t just do harm to individuals. It represents a hurtful and hateful perspective, and those who engage in it work to perpetuate negative, biased, and harmful ideas about weight and moral character.
How to Avoid Body Shaming
Resisting the urge to shame or isolate someone for their appearance ultimately comes down to a perspective shift. And the best way to change your mind is to expand it.
Learning more about the negative effects of body shaming and the devastating impact of eating disorders can go a long way toward refraining from making hurtful comments. Speaking with those who have experienced the behavior can be another eye-opening experience. And digging into the truth of diet culture, fitness culture, and wellness culture—and the unrealistic stereotypes they perpetuate—is another good way to dismantle a tainted worldview.
For bystanders, calling out the behavior when you see it may be helpful. Here, education can also be important, as you can bring up the harmful effects of the behavior you’re witnessing. And being a source of support to those who’ve experienced body shaming is another good way to help.
If you’ve experienced body shaming, you can also work on speaking up when the behavior occurs. But you may also want to focus on building resilience, self-esteem, and body positivity as a proactive way to ward off the harmful effects of body shaming. Some practices that may be helpful include:
- Managing and curating your social media feeds
- Engaging in acts of self-love
- Reciting positive mantras
- Practicing mindfulness, journaling, or other self-care methods
- Reallocating your time to be around more positive, supportive people (if possible)
- Speaking with a therapist or specialist
Body shaming can have a ripple of negative effects, but with some mindfulness, care, and empathy, we can work together to build a more positive, supportive world for people of all shapes and sizes.
Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer of Within, a comprehensive, remote eating disorder treatment provider and has more than 25 years of clinical experience. She is also the co-creator of Weight Stigma Awareness Week (co-hosted by Within), which she began while serving as the Chairman of the Binge Eating Disorder Association as a way to improve awareness of weight stigma and the seriousness of its effects.
Resources
- Pastore, M., Indrio, F., Bali, D., et. al. (2023). Alarming Increase of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents. European Paediatric Association, 263, 113733.
- Cerolini, S., Vacca, M., Zegretti, A., Zagaria, A., & Lombardo, C. (2024). Body shaming and internalized weight bias as potential precursors of eating disorders in adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1356647.
- Brewis, A. A., & Bruening, M. (2018). Weight Shame, Social Connection, and Depressive Symptoms in Late Adolescence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(5), 891.
- Warnick, J., Darling, K., Rancourt, D. (2022). The association between negative body talk and body shame on disordered eating symptoms among college students. Eating Behaviors, 46, 101648.