Body image is a symbolic representation that an individual makes of his or her own body.
The concept of image refers to the figure, representation, appearance or likeness of something . The term also refers to the visual representation of an object using techniques from photography, painting or other disciplines.
Corporal , on the other hand, comes from the Latin corporalis and refers to what belongs to or relates to the body . This notion (body) is linked to that which has limited extension and is perceptible through the senses or to the set of organic systems that constitute a living being.
The idea of body image is usually associated with the symbolic representation that a person makes of their own body . It is, therefore, about the way in which each subject sees himself . For example: “I am satisfied with my body image” , “Those who suffer from eating disorders have a distorted body image, which does not fit reality” , “I had to leave the world of fashion because I couldn't stand the pressure on my body image”. ” .
Construction of body image
It is important to highlight that body image is built through various components. On the one hand, what the person actually sees when looking in the mirror appears. This would be the objective component , although said objectivity, in reality, is determined by culture and time (a body weight that is currently considered excessive may have been acceptable and even recommended just a few decades ago).
On the other hand, body image has a strong emotional component , which is linked to how each subject processes what they see in the mirror. In this way, a teenager with a healthy weight can see himself out of shape, which will generate a separation between the image perceived by other people and the body image that he registers.
Objective and subjective factors come into play in the construction of body image.
Disorders in perception
The mass media is largely responsible for the absurd demands that many people impose on themselves regarding their physical appearance . Some of the most common disorders related to the perception that human beings have of our body image are the following:
* dysmorphophobia : also called body dysmorphic disorder , it generates in those who suffer from it a very distorted image of their own physical appearance, to the point of making them believe that they are true monsters, that their ugliness makes them unpleasant beings and that they could not be attractive to anyone. . The consequences of this disorder are very varied, and depend on a series of factors related to the history and sensitivity of each subject, but they can lead to an obsession with cosmetic surgeries , absolute seclusion and suicide;
* bulimia : this is a disease that produces regular episodes of excessive eating, without any control over the desire to continue eating, after which vomiting is usually self-induced or laxatives consumed so that said attack does not lead to weight gain. According to statistics, this disorder is more common in women, especially in adolescents and young people, than in men. Although the cause of bulimia is not known, it is believed that genetic, traumatic, psychological, family, cultural and social factors can influence its appearance;
* anorexia nervosa : it is an eating disorder that causes weight loss to levels far below what is considered healthy for the height and age of the person who suffers from it. An anorexic person experiences a deep fear at the mere idea of gaining weight, even though this could bring them back to normal. Excessive exercise and extreme dieting or food deprivation for long periods are some of the most common symptoms.