What can I do for a friend with a negative body image?
- Learn about body image. Know that it is normal to have good and bad body image days. Just because someone has a bad body day does not mean they have a negative body image.
- Recognize the difference between negative body image and eating disorders. They are different problems with very different treatments.
- Listen to your friend with understanding, respect and sensitivity.
- Tell the person you are concerned, that you care and would like to help. Ask the person if he or she would like to talk to a counselor about his/her body image.
- Be available when your friend needs someone to talk to.
- Talk about things other than food, weight and body image.
- Confront fat talk and bad body talk in a sensitive yet direct way (like if your friend puts herself down and says mean things about her body, call her on it!).
And it’s also important to know about some of the DON’TS…things that don’t really help out so much when you have friends with a negative body image:
- Don’t try to solve their problems for them.
- Don’t blame them for doing something wrong or tell them they are acting silly.
- Don’t gossip about them.
- Don’t focus all your attention on looks or weight. If they ask, share information about a nutritional and balanced diet.
- Don’t make comments about a person’s appearance. Concern about weight loss may be interpreted as a complement; comments about weight gain may be seen as criticism.
- Don’t be afraid to upset them; talk with them, tell them what you think and feel. Don’t reject or ignore them or the issues.
- Don’t ignore their body preoccupation. Let them know that you notice that all they talk about is their body image and that concerns you.
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