What Are the Most Prevalent Social Barriers to Body Acceptance?

One of the most prevalent social media barriers to body acceptance is fatphobia. Fatphobia is when people with fat bodies are labelled less powerful, healthy, attractive and successful by the society. With a fatphobic society, people with higher weights develop a fear of being or becoming fat. If you can’t be or become fat unapologetically, chances are you will never accept and love your body. Another social barrier to body acceptance is social media. Let’s face it; most of us take what we see on social media seriously. That is why the pictures of other people’s bodies and lifestyles cause us a host of negative emotions, including rejection, anxiety, failure, shame and embarrassment. Listen, most bodies and lifestyles you see on social media are unrealistic.

What Are the Mental Health Benefits of Body Acceptance?

If you can exist in your body without shame, you are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, low self-esteem and body dysmorphic disorder(BDD).

What Are the Most Effective Ways Someone Can Boost Their Body Acceptance?

While the body acceptance journey differs from person to person, some of the strategies you can use to start your journey and stay on track include;

  • Avoiding social media accounts that make you feel bad about your body
  • Be thankful and appreciative for what your body can do right now
  • Tell yourself the negative thoughts about your body are only temporary

What Podcasts Do You Recommend for People Struggling with Body Image and Body Acceptance?

I recommend the following podcasts;

  • She’s All Fat: A fat Positive Podcast
  • Food Heaven Podcast
  • Affirmation Pod
  • Fat Girls Club
  • Break the Diet Cycle
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Anastasia Filipenko is a health and wellness psychologist, dermatolist and a freelance writer. She frequently covers beauty and skincare, food trends and nutrition, health and fitness and relationships. When she's not trying out new skincare products, you'll find her taking a cycling class, doing yoga, reading in the park, or trying a new recipe.

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Ieva Kubiliute is a psychologist and a sex and relationships advisor and a freelance writer. She's also a consultant to several health and wellness brands. While Ieva specialises in covering wellness topics ranging from fitness and nutrition, to mental wellbeing, sex and relationships and health conditions, she has written across a diverse range of lifestyle topics, including beauty and travel. Career highlights so far include: luxury spa-hopping in Spain and joining an £18k-a-year London gym. Someone’s got to do it! When she’s not typing away at her desk—or interviewing experts and case studies, Ieva winds down with yoga, a good movie and great skincare (affordable of course, there’s little she doesn’t know about budget beauty). Things that bring her endless joy: digital detoxes, oat milk lattes and long country walks (and sometimes jogs).

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Mental health expert
MS, University of Latvia

I am deeply convinced that each patient needs a unique, individual approach. Therefore, I use different psychotherapy methods in my work. During my studies, I discovered an in-depth interest in people as a whole and the belief in the inseparability of mind and body, and the importance of emotional health in physical health. In my spare time, I enjoy reading (a big fan of thrillers) and going on hikes.

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