Body shaming can impact your mental health, including issues like low self-esteem, eating disorders, and social isolation.
Even subtle and unintentional body shaming comments can be harmful and hurtful.
Building resilience through self-affirmation, setting boundaries, and surrounding yourself with supportive people can help you manage the effects of body shaming.
Many of us have faced body shaming at some point. Body shaming is when someone criticizes or mocks the size, shape, or appearance of your body. Research shows that, unfortunately, it’s especially common among adolescents. Up to half of high school students report being victims of body shaming at least sometimes.
Body shaming is cruel, and it’s never your fault. It can have significant negative impacts on your mental health. While we work toward a kinder society, you can take steps to set boundaries and support your self-esteem.
What body shaming means
Body shaming isn't a new phenomenon, and most people understand it as criticizing or making negative unsolicited remarks about someone else’s body. While it might not always be intended to be harmful, the person on the receiving end of these comments may feel humiliated, embarrassed, or hurt.
Body shaming might include comments about someone’s:
Weight
Shape
Appearance
Size
Clothing
Hair
Makeup choices
Facial characteristics
Sometimes body shaming is direct, while other times it’s more subtle. For example, someone might comment on your eating habits while indirectly referring to your body weight or size, “You need to eat more!” Or someone might believe they’re being well-meaning, making remarks about your body disguised as concern for your health, “Your hair is getting thinner, is everything okay?”. These subtle or even “well-intentioned” body shaming comments can still be hurtful.
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How body shaming affects mental health
It can be incredibly painful to be on the receiving end of body shaming. It can not only lead to emotional distress and humiliation, but it can also have negative effects on your life and well-being.
Body shaming can affect your:
Body image: Body shaming can negatively impact your body image. It can make you feel self-conscious, especially if you’re a young person who’s still developing a healthy body image.
Self-esteem: Many victims of body shaming report that it significantly affects their self-esteem. You might start internalizing these comments and feeling shame and embarrassment about your body.
Social relationships: When you experience body shaming, it might feel easier to withdraw from your social life and spend more time alone. But social isolation can affect your well-being too.
Mental health: Body shaming can have serious impacts on your mental health. Research shows that being a victim of body shaming can be a risk factor for developing eating disorders like bulimia, binge eating disorder, or orthorexia. One study found that body shaming had a significant impact on stress, depression, and anxiety levels. When left unaddressed, these concerns could develop into depressive or anxiety disorders.
The role of media in body shaming
The media, advertisements, and influencers may endorse certain body types as “the norm.” These messages tell us that having anything that isn’t deemed “normal” by society’s standards is wrong. These standards are typically narrow and unrealistic. But when society adopts these standards as the expectation, body shaming can worsen.
Body shaming can happen both offline and online. But it may feel easier for perpetrators to make these negative comments online, especially toward people they don’t know in their “real” lives. Social media has made it easier than ever to body shame others without having to own the impact of these comments.
It’s important to recognize that the bodies you see online or in advertisements are often altered. They don’t represent the vast diversity of bodies that humans actually have.
Healthy ways to deal with body shaming
As a society, we need to work toward reducing body shaming and learning how to accept and celebrate all different types of bodies. People who are the target of body shaming and internalize these criticisms are more likely to develop eating disorders. So it’s essential to develop strategies to build your resilience and defend yourself against these comments.
You can address body shaming in these ways:
Shift your focus
People often deal with body shaming by ignoring the comments. This may not work long term. But it can help you deal with these comments while they’re happening. You can also prevent internalizing negative comments by flipping the script. Instead of dwelling on what someone else thinks about your body, focus on what you love or appreciate about your body.
A self-affirmation can help. You might repeat to yourself, “My body works hard to take care of me, and I won’t allow others to make me feel bad about myself.”
Set boundaries to protect your mental health
Setting boundaries is important but can be hard — especially when the body shaming is coming from loved ones like family. But you don’t need to accept this treatment.
It’s possible that the people who are body shaming you are well-intentioned and don’t fully understand its negative impact. Setting clear, firm boundaries and educating others can make a difference in how you’re being treated.
For example, you might say something like, “You say you’re ‘just joking,’ but you need to know that when you make comments like that, it truly hurts my feelings. I’d like you to stop.”
Surround yourself with supportive people
It may be tempting to withdraw completely from social interactions when you’re being body shamed. But isolation can have more harm than good. Instead, try to surround yourself with supportive people who celebrate you for who you are. Look for people who build your confidence rather than tear it down.
A therapist can also be a part of your support network. They can help you reframe negative thoughts about yourself, build confidence, and learn ways to respond when someone makes comments about your body.
Trying to toughen up often leads to emotional numbing or self-criticism rather than true resilience. Real strength comes from honoring your experience and learning to care for your body with kindness instead of defense.
Ashley Ayala, LMFT
Clinical reviewer
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If you’re on the receiving end of body shaming, you might feel hurt, embarrassed, or ashamed. This is a valid response, but you don’t have to let it chip away at your confidence long term. Working with a therapist can help you overcome the impacts of body shaming. They can support you in building resilience, strengthening your self-esteem, and developing healthy coping strategies.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we're here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
Saya Des Marais
Saya graduated with her Master in Social Work (MSW) with a concentration in mental health from the University of Southern California in 2010. She formerly worked as a therapist and motivational interviewing trainer in community clinics, public schools, mental health startups, and more.
Her writing has been featured in FORTUNE, GoodRX, PsychCentral, and dozens of mental health apps and therapy websites. Through both her clinical work and her personal OCD diagnosis, she’s learned the importance of making empathetic and accurate mental health content available online.
She lives in Portland, Oregon but you can find her almost just as often in Mexico or in her birthplace, Tokyo.
Ashley Ayala, LMFT
Ashley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in generational healing and family dynamics. Ashley has worked in schools, clinics, and in private practice. She believes that people’s relationships, including our relationship with ourselves, greatly shape our experiences in life.
Ashley is committed to empowering others to show up authentically and deepen their self understanding. This passion stems from taking a critical lens on her own life story and doing inner healing. One of her favorite quotes is “Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.”
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