Mente y estado de ánimo

Body image

Revisado: 4 de octubre de 2026

Solo en inglés por ahora

Body image is how you think and feel about your body. A kinder view of yourself is good for your mental health, and it can grow with practice.

What body image means

Body image is how you see your body and how you feel about it, in the mirror or in your own mind. A healthy body image means feeling at ease in your body and mostly happy with how you look. Your body also changes naturally over time, and even across a cycle. Bloating before a period, for example, is common.

What shapes how you see yourself

Many things affect body image. Media and advertising tend to show women who are thin and young, and the images are often edited. The people around you matter too. Children pick up ideas from adults: daughters whose mothers diet are twice as likely to think about dieting themselves. Being teased or bullied about your looks as a child can also shape how you see yourself later.

Why it matters for your health

A negative body image can lower your self-esteem, which can affect many parts of your life. It can also raise the risk of some mental health problems, such as depression and eating disorders. Some people become very distressed about small or imagined flaws in how they look. This can be a sign of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is a serious illness. A doctor or nurse can help.

Building a kinder view of your body

Body image can change with practice. Kind thoughts get easier with practice. Try to notice harsh thoughts about your body and swap them for fairer ones. Focusing on the parts of yourself you like can help. Learning to accept how you look is better for you than always trying to change it. Remember that many images in media and adverts are edited. Spending less time with content that makes you feel worse about yourself may help too.

When to get help

Talk to a doctor or nurse if worries about your body take up a lot of your time or affect your mood, eating or daily life. Eating very little, exercising much more than usual, or losing your periods can be warning signs of an eating disorder. These are worth getting checked early, and support is available. If you are thinking about harming yourself, get emergency help or contact a crisis line now.

This is general information. If worries about your body are affecting your life, talk to a doctor or nurse.