Body image refers to the way in which a person perceives his/her body to be.
In ancient Indian art and literature, women were portrayed with rounded faces, breasts and hips with narrow waists, and men had broad shoulders and narrow waists. In the Victorian era, women were portrayed with hourglass figures attributed to the corset. The US movie and fashion industry portrayed slim, tall and narrow-waisted women, and broad shoulders, narrow waist and six-pack abs for men.
In the era of social media, more importance is given to body image and the appearance of one’s face in a selfie. This has caused a lot of pressure on young adults to resemble celebrities and models in facial and body symmetry.
In recent times, another trend that has increased considerably is the use of beauty filters to alter the appearance. These beauty filters use artificial intelligence and image editing to change a person’s features. The filters have various options to make the face or body look slimmer, adjust the facial or body symmetry, and change the facial skin texture, tone and pigmentations. Data from various studies show that more than 90% of young adults use beauty filters. With the increase in the usage of beauty filters, young adults are not only comparing themselves with celebrities but are also judging themselves against their non-filtered images. This causes an increase in anxiety and depression and a negative body image. This may also lead to a serious mental health condition like body dysmorphic disorder.
It is the collective responsibility of healthcare workers, teachers, social workers, media celebrities and social media platforms to educate about the dangers of excessive usage of beauty filters. They have to be used mindfully and the time spent to edit images has to be gradually reduced. We have to learn to embrace our authentic selves and become comfortable with ourselves.
These steps can be followed to improve our body image and boost self-confidence:
- Appreciate your face and body; see yourself as a whole person.
- Keep a list of 10 things you like about your face and body.
- Associate with people who have a positive outlook.
- Surround yourself with people of all body sizes and shapes. We have to accept that there is no fixed rule in beauty.
- Avoid comparison with others and stop checking behavior (weight/mirror/social media, etc.).
In today’s extensive social media usage, it is very important to understand the dangers of the excessive use of beauty filters. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, developing a positive body image and using social media responsibly are the needs of the day.
Dr. Sathish Manivel
Consultant Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeon,
Kauvery Hospital, Chennai
