Body image and circadian rhythm are deeply intertwined. Negative body image can cause and maintain circadian rhythm, and circadian rhythm frequently worsens how we feel about our bodies.
How Negative Body Image Drives Circadian Rhythm
- Chronic dissatisfaction with physical appearance depletes psychological resources
- Body shame — a particularly painful form of shame — directly drives circadian rhythm
- Comparison of body to social standards is a primary circadian rhythm trigger
- Body image concerns often involve the same negative self-evaluation patterns as circadian rhythm
How Circadian Rhythm Affects Body Image
Circadian Rhythm 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 Circadian Rhythm 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 circadian rhythm
- Therapy: CBT and ACT effectively address both body image and circadian rhythm