It is their body and they are likely aware of any changes,” said Kusha Kapila.
Kusha Kapila, a well-known Instagram influencer and comedian famous for her comedic videos on household themes, recently took to social media to release a new clip on weight gain. The video aims to educate people on the importance of being mindful when complimenting others’ bodies. The way we speak about our own bodies and others’ bodies can have a significant impact on the body image we or others may have formed in our minds. Negative body image can lead to serious physical and psychological health consequences.
In her video, Kapila highlighted the pointlessness of informing someone that they have gained or lost weight, as they may already be aware of it. She jokingly pointed out that there is no benefit to making someone excessively self-conscious about their body. “It’s their body and they probably know if there has been any change,” said Kapila.
Research has shown that negative body image can lead to dissatisfaction and a desire for a different body. Making people weight-conscious has been found to be ineffective in motivating healthy changes, and can even contribute to eating disorders.
What wrongs we might be doing?
With the rise of social media, it has become common for people to comment on others’ lives. A friend might post a photo, and we may quickly rush to leave a heart emoji. However, according to experts, our relationship with our bodies is complex, and there are no safe or appropriate words to use when complimenting others’ bodies. The shape of our bodies can be affected by a variety of personal and medical factors. Here are a few things we might be doing wrong:
- Photos are meant to capture moments and memories, but it is not appropriate to label someone as “photogenic” as it implies that only certain people are worthy of being photographed.
- It is not appropriate to comment on people’s bodies without having a personal relationship with them. For example, telling a friend they have gained weight since the last time you saw them 5 years ago without knowing their personal circumstances. Your friend might have underlying physical conditions like hypothyroidism or mental health conditions like depression that you are not aware of.
- Encouraging people to lose weight has been found to cause more harm than good. It can fixate in their mind that they need to have a different body shape.
- Complimenting thinness as being healthy is a misguided notion. The term “health” refers to a body free of disease, not a specific body type.
Signs you might be developing negative body image:
Experts say that efforts made to improve one’s health should be commended, regardless of their size or outcome. Despite this, many people struggle with negative body image. This can be caused by society, but also by being overly critical of our own bodies. The first step to change is to be aware of this internal critique. Here are some signs:
- Your body negatively affects your relationships and work.
- You avoid looking at yourself in the mirror.
- You make negative jokes about your body.
- You have negative feelings when thinking about your body.
- You heavily rely on accessories and makeup to conceal aspects of your body that make you feel insecure.