From the Guidelines
To improve body image satisfaction and aesthetic appearance, it is essential to address the underlying psychological factors through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, such as exposure and response prevention, and behavioral experiments, as outlined in the most recent study on body dysmorphic disorder in young people 1.
Key Components of CBT for Body Dysmorphic Disorder
The study highlights the importance of psychoeducation about body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), anxiety, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to challenge negative thoughts and beliefs about appearance. The key components of CBT for BDD include:
- Psychoeducation about BDD and anxiety
- Constructing a hierarchy of avoided situations and safety behaviors
- CBT formulation to identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs
- Goal setting, including short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP) to confront feared and avoided situations
- Behavioral experiments to test negative beliefs and challenge maladaptive thoughts
Practical Strategies for Improving Body Image Satisfaction
In addition to CBT techniques, practical strategies for improving body image satisfaction include:
- Practicing positive self-talk and challenging negative thoughts about appearance
- Setting realistic expectations and recognizing that media images are often heavily edited
- Establishing a consistent self-care routine, including proper sleep, balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and good hygiene
- Engaging in mindfulness practices, such as meditation or journaling, to reduce appearance-focused anxiety
- Dressing in ways that promote comfort and confidence
- Limiting social media consumption and following accounts that promote body diversity and positivity
Importance of Professional Help
If appearance concerns significantly impact daily functioning, it is crucial to seek help from a mental health professional who specializes in body image issues. A professional can provide personalized guidance and support to address underlying psychological factors and develop effective strategies for improving body image satisfaction and aesthetic appearance, as recommended by the most recent study on BDD in young people 1.
From the Research
Improving Body Image Satisfaction and Aesthetic Appearance
To improve body image satisfaction and aesthetic appearance, several factors and interventions can be considered:
- Surgical correction, such as plastic surgery, can improve aesthetic appearance and subsequently self-esteem and self-confidence 2, 3
- Psychological help, such as increasing self-esteem and lowering fear of negative appearance evaluation by others, can also improve patient satisfaction 4
- Focusing on positive elements of appearance, functional qualities of the body, and positive aspects of oneself can improve body satisfaction and response to media 5
- Hair satisfaction is an important domain of appearance evaluation, particularly for Black adolescent girls, and should be considered in interventions to promote positive body image 6
- The extent of psychological problems before surgery can influence improvements in postoperative psychological outcomes, and few psychological problems before surgery can predict a greater improvement in appearance satisfaction and self-esteem after surgery 3
Key Determinants of Body Image Satisfaction
Some key determinants of body image satisfaction include:
- Level of education 4
- Number of affected facial parts and facial function 4
- Fear of negative appearance evaluation by others (FNAE) 4
- Self-esteem (SE) 4, 3
- Hair satisfaction, particularly for Black adolescent girls 6
Interventions for Improving Body Image Satisfaction
Interventions that can improve body image satisfaction include:
- Multi-session programs that address positive self, appearance, and functionality 5
- Writing tasks about the positive elements of appearance, body functionality, and who one is as a person 5
- Engaging with functionality-focused public health campaigns 5
- Cosmetic surgery, which can improve satisfaction with own appearance and self-esteem 2, 3