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