Body image and appetite are deeply intertwined. Negative body image can cause and maintain appetite, and appetite frequently worsens how we feel about our bodies.
How Negative Body Image Drives Appetite
- Chronic dissatisfaction with physical appearance depletes psychological resources
- Body shame — a particularly painful form of shame — directly drives appetite
- Comparison of body to social standards is a primary appetite trigger
- Body image concerns often involve the same negative self-evaluation patterns as appetite
How Appetite Affects Body Image
Appetite can worsen body image through reduced self-care motivation, changes in appetite and weight, and a general negative lens that extends to physical self-perception.
Addressing Body Image and Appetite Together
- Body neutrality: Not requiring positive body feelings, just reduction of hostility
- Body functionality focus: What your body does vs. how it looks
- Intuitive eating: Reconnecting with hunger and satisfaction cues disrupted by appetite
- Therapy: CBT and ACT effectively address both body image and appetite