Protective and Risk Behaviours in relation to Body image 

Protective behaviours- Ways in which you can maintain a good body image 

  • Not pay attention to negative body image campaigns

Many media campaigns are aimed to influence young people in today’s society and may lead to negative influences causing people to take un-healthy measures. It is important not to pay attention to these negative campaigns as they distort your understanding and view of body images and how we perceive our bodies as well as others. By not paying attention to these factors people are able to create their our individual perspective of body image which enables them to have positive attitudes.  

  • Maintain a balanced diet

Learning to eat healthy rather than un-healthy foods is an important factor which can increase a positive awareness to the understanding of body image. This is a positive behaviour which can be adopted into a person’s lifestyle without affecting their other determinants of health. Healthy diets must contain a balance between all foods groups which ensures a person to maintain their body image.

 

  • Participate in physical activity

Participation in physical activities allow people to have a positive approach to maintaining a healthy body image. This generally gives people more confidence in their physical appearance and gives them a positive attitude.   

 

  • Accepting of your body image

It is an important factor to be able to accept and be happy with your body image. This minimises the effect that most media campaigns will have on influencing your decisions. It also lowers the likelihood of people taking extreme measures in order to fit into the persona of having a perfect body. Accepting your body image may also lead to a greater understanding of health issues and how they impact on the lives of many young people.  

 

 

Risk behaviours- Ways in which your body image can be effected

 

  • Non-participation in physical activity

Lack of participation in physical activities can lead to decreasing in fitness levels. This may be caused from not being conscious of the risks associated with not being physically active such as becoming unfit, begin eating an un-healthy diet becoming less socially active.

 

  • Eating an unhealthy diet

Foods which contain high levels of carbohydrates may become a frequent indulgence for some people which impacts on their body image and how others may perceive their appearance. Indulging in bad foods may lead to diseases such as type 2 diabetes and affect the overall health of a person.

 

  • Being influenced by negative body images

The media produces many images throughout society which can have a negative effect on the views and perception people develop as adolescence. Being exposed to daily images such as unrealistic images may cause people to model these idealised body images. This is unhealthy, particularly for females, as they tend to strive to become more and more like these images which can lead to drastic actions such as eating disorders or excessive exercising. 

 

  • Body image dissatisfaction

 This doesn’t only concern people’s body size and shape, but also skin colour, strength, fitness, facial characteristics, physical religious characteristics, disabilities and ethnic diversity. This may lead to unhealthy measures such as excess exercising which may lead to a huge decline in body weight which is unhealthy. People may also develop unhealthy habits which can lead to a negative perception of how they perceive their bodies.


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