14 Dec Body image, comfort food and self-confidence

Body image is a huge issue today. Images in magazines are often honed to perfection and the increased use of botox, fillers and surgical enhancement in the celebrity world can often create unrealistic expectations of how we should look and feel about ourselves.

I went to a lively and stimulating seminar with Susie Orbach recently which talked about the impact of this – how this is affecting children as they grow up and in both women’s and men’s perception of their own bodies; and the conflicts that may arise because of this.

Consumer society tantalises us. We then try within ourselves to control the needs that are being constantly stimulated - Susie Orbach

The images in magazines are often honed to perfection, and culturally we are bombarded with them.

What does that do to us as individuals? What’s the impact on us, on our relationship with food, on our body image and how we live our lives?  And most importantly our sense of ourselves inside – is there a quest for perfection that can never be maintained?

Your personal history can have a big impact on this with childhood experiences often shaping the way we are today, including our relationship with food and nutrition. One of my memories is of my mother only cooking on Sundays, and having salad every single day for dinner!  No wonder I used to secretly buy packets of instant potato on the way home from school and comfort myself before anyone arrived home!  ‘Comfort foods’ can often be just that – something we take refuge in to escape what is happening in the rest of our lives. Do you have one? If so, it might be useful to reflect on when you started and what was going on around you at the time.

Body-esteem and hence self-esteem can interfere with a good relationship with both ourselves and others, giving rise to emotional heartache.  If you are experiencing difficulties in this area and want to see someone, just give me a call.

After all, one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves in many ways, is to realise that as human beings we have the gift of imperfection to revel in and enjoy, if only we allow ourselves.