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