Walking the Line Between Positive Body Image and Healthy Weight Loss

Maintaining a positive body image isn’t always easy, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. Here, learn how we can help you achieve your weight goals in a healthy way that supports your confidence and physical and emotional wellness.

Because social media and advertising permeate society, it may be hard to break free from unhealthy perceptions and obsessions about how we “should” look. All too often, our concepts of health and beauty are dictated by the whims of others.

As a result, we may develop a skewed sense of self-esteem or set unrealistic aesthetic goals that harm our physical health or emotional well-being. That’s especially true with weight loss; what we see on social media or in ads often conflicts with optimal health practices.

At I & B Medical Associates in Miami, Florida, our team helps patients lose weight in a healthy manner using medical weight loss plans tailored to their health needs and goals.

In this post, learn how medical weight loss can help you enjoy better health, a more positive body image, and greater confidence, too.

How body image drives unhealthy weight loss

Body image refers to how you feel about your body’s appearance. When we have a poor body image — a low opinion of how we look — we’re also more likely to have low self-esteem, low self-confidence, and emotional disorders like depression or anxiety.

Lots of factors can contribute to a poor or unhealthy body image. Many people feel pressure from friends or family members to lose weight. Peer pressure plays a pivotal role, as well.

And, of course, unhealthy and unrealistic images in advertising or on social media are major influences for many people, driving deep feelings of dissatisfaction and personal failure.

These outside influences can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors, even eating disorders. Many fad or celebrity diets depend on these unrealistic expectations to drive profits.

It’s important to maintain a healthy weight, of course, but what constitutes healthy varies from one person to the next — and it definitely doesn’t mean you need to be skinny or underweight.

Worse, turning to fad or crash diets can leave you with nutrient deficiencies or other problems that have long-term consequences for your physical and emotional health.

Losing weight and maintaining a positive body image

Your healthy weight shouldn’t be dictated by other people’s perceptions or the images spread by advertising companies or social media influencers. Instead, focus your weight goals on what’s ideal for you and your health and wellness.

What’s healthy for you isn’t always easy, and setting realistic goals isn’t either. The good news: Medical weight loss can help. Setting healthy, realistic goals and helping you achieve them is what medical weight loss is all about.

Our medical weight loss plans begin with a physical examination, lab testing, and understanding your weight management challenges. Then, we design a plan focused on your health and wellness, helping you develop more positive thoughts and behaviors.

Plus, as a top-ranked internal medicine practice, our team also offers support throughout your weight loss journey, providing the guidance and care you need to maintain your weight, health, and confidence.

We help you learn to prioritize your health and wellness and shed unrealistic expectations that harm you both physically and emotionally.

Prioritize yourself

Don’t let someone else dictate how you feel about yourself. To learn more about our health-oriented medical weight loss plans, call 786-321-2399 or book an appointment online at I & B Medical Associates today.