body image

noun

1. an intellectual or idealized image of what one's body is or should be like that is sometimes misconceived in such mental disorders as anorexia nervosa.

body image

noun

1. psychol an individual's concept of his or her own body

Word History and Origins

Origin of body image¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

“People’s internalization of beauty standards, their own body image, or whether they will intensify their appearance concern,” are all considerations, Niu said.

From MIT Technology Review

Across the six countries, the more that people internalized weight bias, the more they gained weight in the prior year, used food to cope with stress, avoided going to the gym, had an unhealthy body image and reported higher stress.

From No Straight News

In addition, according to the National Eating Disorders Association, weight stigma can lead to depression and poor body image, as well as increased likelihood of binge eating and disordered eating.

From Washington Post

If you are struggling with eating and body image in any way, you do not have to suffer alone.

From Outside Online

This all changes when her therapist asks her to cut off communication for 90 days with her mother—the woman whose own body image struggles shaped her daughter’s warped relationship with food.

From Time

One of the topics you write about quite a bit is the body image problem you had when you were growing up.

From The Daily Beast

Our society has a major issue with quickly categorizing people when it comes to body image.

From The Daily Beast

Your talk has actually led to discussion around school about positive body image… Today I feel more determined to recover!

From The Daily Beast

Yet while the thigh gap was a very real body image issue, the bikini bridge may not be.

From The Daily Beast

We have the power to change perceptions about body image—and we have the power to stop harmful trends like the “thigh gap.”

From The Daily Beast