Perfectly "Unperfect"

In the November issue of Oprah’s magazine “O” is an article about body image. Katie Halchishick is featured nude holding a Barbie doll. She started a foundation called the “Perfectly Unperfected Project” and “Healthy is the New Skinny.” Their mission is to help women accept their bodies as they are and to reject unhealthy thinness. Katie appears naked in the article with dotted lines covering her body to illustrate what she would need to lose in order to have the figure of Barbie. Her daring reveal is a reminder of the pressure that is placed on women to look a certain way. These messages begin impacting women in early adolescence and continue through life. The “Perfectly Unperfected Project” challenges what we accept as beauty.

Body image affects many areas of life. It can impact how comfortable we are being intimate with our partners. It can influence how we engage in our relationships. It can lead us to endless comparing with others. Body image can ultimately affect our self-esteem. In the article, one woman shares how plastic surgeries have benefitted her life, leading to a better career because she is more attractive. Studies show that attractiveness does impact the various facets of our lives. How do we reconcile the importance society places on attractiveness with our body image?

This is not simply a topic that women struggle with. Men also deal with body image. Just go to your local gym or GNC and see all the products that are available for men to add muscle. Body image for men affects how they engage in intimate relationships as well. A poor body image can influence how a man interacts with his partner sexually. Studies have shown that attractive men are also treated differently in the workplace.

If you haven’t gotten the point yet, body image is important. How you feel about your body impacts your life. Finding a healthy approach to your own body image leads to a healthier you.