Dr. Julie R. Ancis POOR BODY IMAGE 4 Signs of Poor Body Image 1.

Preoccupied and dissatisfied with body appearance, shape and weight. 2. Self-evaluation is overly influenced by perception of body appearance. 3. Misperception of actual appearance and weight (e.g., thinks too fat when emaciated). 4. Self-defeating thoughts about food, eating, and body size. 4 Ways to Enhance Your Body Image 1. Examine messages you received growing up to present day about your weight and appearance. 2. Educate yourself on the relationship between societal messages regarding womens/mens beauty and your body image. 3. Use positive affirmations and imagery to help correct body image distortions. 4. Learn to develop internal standards of approval versus relying on approval from others.
FURTHER RESOURCES Ancis, J. R., & Jongsma, A. E. (2007). The Complete Womens Psychotherapy Treatment Planner. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470039833.html

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Psychotherapy-Treatment-PlannerPracticePlanners/dp/0470039833

Cash, T. F., Ancis, J. R., & Strachan, M. D. (1997). Gender attitudes, feminist identity, and body image among college women. Sex Roles, 36, 433-446. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02766682?LI=true#page-1

Watson, L. B., Ancis, J. R., White, D. N., Nazari, N. (2013). Racial identity buffers African American women from body image problems and disordered eating. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 1-14. doi: 10.1177/0361684312474799 http://pwq.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/02/05/0361684312474799.abstract

Dr. Julie R. Ancis