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Body image

Learn more about body image issues and take steps to improve your own body image.

Source: Health Services

What is body image?

There are two main features of body image:

  1. How we perceive our appearance (What do we see when we look in the mirror or at a photo of ourself? How do we talk about ourself and the way we look?)
  2. How we feel about what we perceive (e.g. sad, happy, ashamed, guilty, anxious). How strong are these emotions?

If your answer gives you concern, learn more about body image issues and take steps to improve your body image (see links below). If you think you can benefit from professional help, visit our mental health support services page to find the right resource for you. 

To learn more

Digital retouching

Digital images can be altered (retouched) using computer programs such as Photoshop. Retouched images of people are everywhere and many of us are unaware of the extent to which these images don't represent reality and how they affect us. For some, viewing images of "flawless" people in magazines, on the Internet and elsewhere contributes to negative feelings about their own appearance. The more a person knows about the techniques the media uses to portray images of "perfect" people, the better able they are to resist the negative feelings that these images can create. Below are a few websites where you can see the results of digitally altered images. Scroll your mouse over the pictures to see the before and after.




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