Last week, Taryn Brumfitt was awarded “Australian of the Year”. This is a testament to the brilliant role she has played in putting body image “on the map”- in Australia and around the world- increasing awareness of body image through her advocacy, writing, and activism. Her message is one of hope and inspiration, and by sharing it with others, she is helping to create a more inclusive and body-accepting society.
At BodyMatters we are excited and hopeful that this opportunity will serve as a platform to continue to raise awareness about negative body image and the detrimental impact it has on people’s lives. This is not just for people experiencing clinical eating disorders- the burden of poor body image, body shame and body anxiety is significant for anyone.
Studies have shown that a negative body image can lead to a range of horrible outcomes, including:
- Mental Health: Negative body image can have a profound impact on an individual’s mental health. It can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and of course, eating disorders. By placing body image on the agenda, we can raise awareness about these issues and encourage people to seek help if they are struggling with negative body image.
- Social Inclusion: Negative body image can lead to discrimination and exclusion based on physical appearance. By promoting body acceptance, we can help to create a more inclusive society, where people of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds are valued and celebrated.
- Healthy Lifestyle: Positive body image is closely linked to healthy lifestyle choices. By promoting body acceptance, we can encourage individuals to prioritize their physical and mental health, leading to healthier and more fulfilling lives.
- Better Body Standards: The media often promotes unrealistic and harmful beauty standards, which can contribute to negative body image. By placing body image on the agenda, we can encourage media outlets to promote more diversity in body standards, which can help to reduce the prevalence of negative body image.
- Intergenerational Impact: Negative body image can be passed down from one generation to another. By placing body image on the agenda, we can help to break this cycle and encourage future generations to embrace their bodies, just as they are.
In conclusion, placing body image on the agenda in Australia is important because it can have a positive impact on individuals’ mental health, social inclusion, healthy lifestyle choices, better body standards, and intergenerational impact. Big congratulations to Taryn for all she has done- and that her platform as Australian of the Year will enable her to continue to do. Well done!
If you or someone you love is experiencing negative body image, please contact us to discuss how we can help you.