Body image

Body image is the perception that a person has of their physical self and the thoughts and feelings that result from that perception.

The Butterfly Foundation

Thoughts and feelings about our bodies are influenced by personal, societal and environmental factors. Positive body image occurs when we are able to accept and respect our body. It involves knowing that there are lots of ways to be in a body, and that there is more to your worth than your physical appearance, or your physical ability.

When we have negative thoughts and feelings about our own body, body dissatisfaction can develop.

Body dissatisfaction is the top ranked issue of worry for young people1, but affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and genders.

One major societal impact on body dissatisfaction is the stigma that people in larger bodies experience. Many people have high levels of anti-fat attitudes. Fatphobia and weight stigma are rife in Australia.

People experiencing body dissatisfaction can become fixated on trying to change their body shape, in order to try and feel better about themselves, and engage with food and exercise in unhealthy ways as a result.

The experience of having body dissatisfaction or a negative body image can be similar to or quite different from experiencing dysphoria. For more information about the ways dysphoria interacts with how we see ourselves, see our page all about Dysphoria here.

This page was developed in collaboration with Inside Out.

Developing positive body image

The Butterfly Foundation writes about the importance of a positive body image, and the value of being able to accept, appreciate, and respect our bodies. No matter where you are in affirming your gender, or how your body takes up space in the world, its amazing because it’s a part of you, and worth looking after and loving.

The Butterfly Foundation has the following list of tips for improving body image:

• Focusing on your positive qualities, skills and talents can help you accept and appreciate your whole self

• Say positive things to yourself every day

• Avoid negative or berating self-talk

• Focusing on appreciating and respecting what your body can do will help you to feel more positively about it

• Setting positive, health focused goals rather than weight loss related ones is more beneficial for your overall wellbeing

• Admiring others’ beauty can improve your own body confidence but it is important to appreciate your own beauty, avoid comparing yourself to others, accept yourself as a whole and remember that everyone is unique and differences are what make us special

• Remember, many media images are unrealistic and represent a minority of the population

While changing your actual appearance can be counterproductive, improving your body image is a constructive goal.

The Butterfly Foundation

Eating disorders are a type of mental illness that impacts upon or relates to how someone eats or consumes food. Eating disorders are defined by changes in behaviours, thoughts and attitudes to food, eating, weight or body shape that interfere and detrimentally impact upon an individual’s life. 

While 1.2 million, or close to 5% of Australians live with an eating disorder, that number is thought to be much higher for trans and gender diverse people. A common myth is that eating disorders only affect heterosexual, cisgender, thin, white women. This misconception unfortunately decreases the chances that people with eating disorders who are trans, or even gay, queer, poor, non-white, or larger-bodied, will receive adequate treatment.

While there is no single cause of eating disorders, research2 indicates that body dissatisfaction can in some cases lead to to an eating disorder, because poor body image or intense weight concerns may lead people to attempt to “correct” how they see their body. Trans people do shoulder a burden of eating disorders and more research is required in this area, it may be that the distress associated with being misgendered or otherwise not affirmed, and the pressures of living in a society challenged by cisgenderism may be a driver for disordered eating in trans communities.

This usually starts with dieting, but can quickly escalate to even more unhealthy and/or obsessive disordered eating behaviours. If body dissatisfaction, along with a number of other psychological, biological and genetic factors, are the “fuel” for developing an eating disorder, dieting is like lighting the match that can then quickly lead to an uncontainable, out of control fire.

The reality is that for most people, there is a delay of many years between developing an eating disorder and getting help. Luckily there is no end point to when a full recovery is possible. While eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening, mental illnesses, research shows that the earlier the intervention and treatment, the faster recovery is possible2.

If you think you have an eating disorder, or have developed unhealthy behaviours or attitudes about body, weight or food, don’t hesitate to seek help.

Signs of an eating disorder

Disordered eating behaviours can include:

• Binge eating

• Dieting

• Irregular frequency of meals

• Self-induced vomiting

• Obsessive calorie counting

• Self-worth largely based on body shape and weight

• Misusing and abusing laxatives or diuretics

• Fasting or chronic restrained eating

• Excessive exercise

What disordered eating looks like will differ from person to person. Even if you’re unsure about whether what’s going on is real or not, it can be helpful to talk to a health professional and get their opinion.

If you’re worried that your eating may be disordered in some way, consider keeping a small diary or using the notes in your phone whenever you notice any behaviours like the above, and see if there are any patterns. No matter your gender, your identity, or your mental health history, you deserve support and care if you’re worried about an aspect of your eating and health.

Eating disorder diagnoses

Eating disorders are diagnosed based on the type of disordered eating behaviours, and their medical and psychological consequences. 

These formal diagnoses are used to provide access to treatment pathways and mental health support and services, such as the Medicare rebate for therapy sessions below.

For a list of diagnoses, visit the Inside Out website.

If you’re worried, but don’t necessarily have eating concerns that fit exactly with the diagnoses, it is still be a good idea to speak to a doctor about what’s worrying you. All concerns are valid and important.

While eating disorders can be severe, they are also treatable and curable illnesses.

Most people with an eating disorder or eating concerns feel shame and find it hard to open up to people, that’s normal and okay. Even so, talking about it is an important part of seeking support and beginning recovery.

If you have any concerns about your relationship with food, and it is impacting your life, speak to a trusted health professional. They can help link you in to other health professionals and services who can help you to explore your concerns and work on your health and recovery.

The Inside Out website hosts a questionnaire that can help direct you to resources based upon your answers, available here, as well as a range of resources for getting help, like the below resource Getting Help Early.

Finding a doctor

Having trusted doctors or health professionals in your life is a great thing, especially if they already care for you and respect you in many ways, but sometimes coming out to a health professional can seem like a difficult or scary experience.

TransHub has put together a resource with 10 questions you can ask a doctor to find out if they are trans-friendly, available below. There is also a template you can fill out with your preferred language and details to take to doctor.

For more information, visit our page on Finding a Doctor.

Medicare

As of November 2019, people living with an eating disorder, who meet the eligibility criteria, are able to get a Medicare rebate for up to 40 psychological sessions and 20 dietetic sessions within a 12-month period. This also includes regular rebated sessions with their GP and a specialist appointment with a psychiatrist or paediatrician.

Your GP is the best person to see first to help you access these Medicare rebates. Find out more about the eligibility criteria, referral options, and what support is available on the Inside Out website.