Experts, including psychologists who specialize in body image, agree that commenting on someone’s appearance can be harmful, even if you think you have good intentions. increase.
Not only is it inappropriate to comment on a person’s body, whether it’s size, shape, or anything else, it’s not only inappropriate, it’s trigger It could be, a clinical assistant professor at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine told BuzzFeed News.
“Unfortunately, we don’t always see what people are suffering from. Like Ariana Grande, she’s taking antidepressants and eating unhealthy. I don’t share it, and I shouldn’t, but people assumed she was in a healthy place just because of her looks. She has feelings, emotions, and struggles, and it’s important that people remember that.”
Other celebrities including actors and singers Selena Gomez also discusses body-shaming comments Something made about their appearance. Talking about bipolar disorder and the autoimmune disease lupus, Gomez said, kidney transplantrecounted her experience in detail TikTok Live.
“When I go out [medication(s)]”I just wanted to encourage you by saying that I feel some kind of shame about what I’m going through and no one really knows.” (Drugs that suppress the immune system are well known to cause weight gain as a side effect.)
People who have questions or concerns about Grande and Gomez sometimes make comments about their bodies, thinking they have the best intentions. It’s better, experts told BuzzFeed News.
We asked an expert who specializes in body image about the potential damage a comment could cause and what you could say instead.
Comments and body image issues
Body image reference how you feel and think about your bodysays Keri Gans, a registered dietitian and nutritionist based in New York City.
Even positive comments can emphasize the importance of looks. This is called appearance orientation.
According to research, social comparisoncan be related to body dissatisfaction, even to one’s own body.
“Negative comments can make them feel even more negative about themselves, which can lead to unhealthy behavior,” Gans said. It can be harmful because it can make you feel like you weren’t.”
People on social platforms were quick to add that the comments came from a place of concern. Although the body changes over time, Including changes in weight and body compositionespecially as we get older.
“You should keep quiet when comments come from good places. You never know what people are going through,” Gans said. “Most importantly, people listen and only provide support when asked.”
Comments about weight can actually encourage and trigger disordered eating behavior, Goldman told BuzzFeed News.
“If someone is struggling to get to that weight or participating in unhealthy behavior and they receive comments like ‘you look so good’, this is actually a negative or unhealthy behavior. “Furthermore, someone can internalize this and ask, ‘What was wrong with my previous self?’ It can influence and even encourage and lead to unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.”
Here’s what you can comment instead
“There are ways to show support and concern without commenting on your body, weight, and shape,” said Goldman. “I always encourage people to stop before using words and think about the words they’re going to use. Words matter, and words can affect someone’s mental health.”
Model Bella Hadid has previously spoken out about comments about her appearance. Body image issues in Vogue interviewsposted an Instagram post highlighting some compliments that weren’t appearance-focused. Her caption reads, “There is so much more to you than meets the eye…”
