Body image and coronavirus disease 2019 are deeply intertwined. Negative body image can cause and maintain coronavirus disease 2019, and coronavirus disease 2019 frequently worsens how we feel about our bodies.
How Negative Body Image Drives Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Chronic dissatisfaction with physical appearance depletes psychological resources
- Body shame — a particularly painful form of shame — directly drives coronavirus disease 2019
- Comparison of body to social standards is a primary coronavirus disease 2019 trigger
- Body image concerns often involve the same negative self-evaluation patterns as coronavirus disease 2019
How Coronavirus Disease 2019 Affects Body Image
Coronavirus Disease 2019 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 Coronavirus Disease 2019 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 coronavirus disease 2019
- Therapy: CBT and ACT effectively address both body image and coronavirus disease 2019