How Does My Body Image Affect My Self-Esteem? (1:08)
Body image is a big driver of self-esteem, since the way we perceive ourselves dictates how we think and feel, and what we do. Watch as clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula, PhD, explains how body image impacts how we feel about ourselves overall.
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Body image maybe one of the biggest drivers of self esteem in our culture because in many ways it's the first thing that somebody sees about us is our body, however it's our interpretation of that body that matters. And the way we view ourselves, the way we perceive ourselves drives how we think, how we feel and what we do.
Now this is a tough issue because so many people, particularly women, have such poor body image. Statistics show that anywhere from 80 to 90% of women don't like their bodies, which turns into not liking themselves and so at the end of the day anyway we perceive our particularly something as salient and out there as our body, is going to drive how we feel about ourselves and this happens at every single age.
And the key then becomes loving ourselves, our body, at any weight, at any number, so that we can always sort of protect and improve our self esteem which then drives our courage and the way we take on other areas of our lives.
Ramani Durvasula, PhD, is professor of psychology at California State University, Los Angeles and a licensed clinical psychologist and author of You Are WHY You Eat: Change Your Food Attitude, Change Your Life.
