Introduction
Body shaming happens when people get judged or mocked for their weight or looks. The criticism does not matter based on the size, age, or gender of the individual. The thing is, it can also turn inward, so the person starts believing those same negative things about themselves. This internal judgement part gets overlooked sometimes.
It can show up as a joke or teasing or even as advice that is supposed to help. Still, repeated comments like that link to feeling worse about your body and mental health concerns. Understanding all this seems useful for better body image but also just for getting along with people.
Why do people do body shaming?
Body shaming comes from lots of different things, like social and cultural stuff mixed with personal issues. It is not usually just one thing. People get ideas about what looks good from society and that can make them compare everyone to some ideal. When that happens, it leads to feeling bad and making comparisons between the ideal image and their own body.
Media plays a part too with all the perfect images shown repeatedly. Social media makes it worse because there are so many edited photos, and research shows that using it a lot relates to body image problems. Family and friends can add to it by making comments about weight or how someone looks. This ultimately teaches kids that appearance matters a lot.
Sometimes it is because of personal insecurities and people take it out on others. But that does not make it okay. A few people might think they are helping when they comment on bodies or eating habits without realizing it can upset people. It can also be learned from watching adults criticize others based on their looks all the time. Thus, it becomes normal, which it shouldn't be.
How beauty standards influence body image?
Beauty standards seem to have some impact on body image. This happens when people compare themselves a lot to idealized appearances. Research has pointed to social comparison, along with internalization of those ideals, as key factors, especially in studies on social media and body image concerns, like the one from Argitis et al in 2025. It seems like that connection is direct but maybe not always noticed right away.
How do families and peers shape attitudes towards body?
Children learn from what they see around them just as much as from being told things directly. Families that talk often about dieting, weight, or attractiveness, or even their own body issues, could end up making the child believe that appearance ties into self-worth. This part can oversimplify things if you look at it too closely. Some people see these influences one way while others do not.
What are the different types of body shaming?
Body shaming may not always be a blatant insult; it can come up in subtle gestures as well.
Fat Shaming: Many individuals have experienced negative remarks, stereotypes, ridicule, or discrimination due to being judged by their body shape or weight. It could be either direct, when an individual makes an insult regarding the body of the other, or indirect, when they assume their health, personality, or lifestyle depending upon what they look like. Such individuals can also have body-shaming beliefs and direct them to themselves, which has been termed body-weight bias internalization. Negative psychological and behavioral consequences of this phenomenon have been noted (Pearl et al., 2018).
Skinny Shaming: It is another form where negative remarks could be made about someone for being skinny. Remarks such as "You are too skinny" or judging the overall health or eating habits of a person solely based upon his/her looks could be detrimental. The expectations of how one should look could vary based upon the gender but could apply to all genders.
Food Shaming: This entails the act of making critical judgements about another person's food selections or consumption habits. Such actions may range from criticizing portion sizes, negative remarks concerning desserts, unwanted dieting tips, or shaming another person for consuming certain foods and feeling guilty.
Appearance-Based Shaming: While body shaming is not exclusive to weight, various other physical aspects may be shamed. It can include shaming hairstyle, poor skin condition, fashionable clothing, face makeup, height, facial features, presence of scars, any specific body part, or other physical traits.
Medical Body Shaming: Weight stigma may take place in medical contexts. The occurrence of body shaming by healthcare providers may result in certain patients not being willing to pursue health care services due to judgmental attitudes or if weight is emphasized irrespective of the problem. The findings from a systematic review suggest a link between the mentioned aspects and healthcare avoidance (Wilkinson et al., 2017).
What does body-shaming language entail?
Body-shaming language can be either overt or covert; for example, body-shaming language entails: insults, bodily teasing or joking, suggestions, backhanded compliments, language about food and physical activity, language regarding bodily changes in weight, and negative language regarding one’s own body, etc.
Some examples could be:
- “You have put on a lot of weight”
- “You are too skinny”
- “You need to start working out”
- “Are you sure you are supposed to eat that?”
- “You used to look better before”
- “I envy your body”
- “I dislike the way my body looks”
How "constructive" comments may also hinder
It's not necessarily the intention behind a comment that determines its effect. Someone may mean to promote good behavior, but they end up telling the person that their body is unacceptable.
If the advice was not asked for, it's usually best to refrain from giving it, as we don’t know what the other person’s beliefs are. Your simple compliment (like “you look great today”) might make them overthink about their looks on the rest of the days (like “didn’t I look good before?”).
Can social media encourage body shaming?
Although social media can help in connecting, educating, entertaining, and creating communities, there are possibilities that appearance-oriented use may affect your body image negatively.
Some probable causes are:
- Appearance-oriented social media use
- Photo editing and filtering
- AI-based beauty filters
- Unattainable appearance norms
- Social comparison
- Commenting on others' weight
- Bullying someone on social media for their body
Recent studies have linked excessive use of social media, appearance-oriented content, dissatisfaction with one’s body, internalization of appearance norms, and disordered eating behaviors, especially among young individuals (Argitis et al., 2025). The critical point here is not the amount of time spent online but rather what you see, how you interact with it, and social comparison.
How can body shaming impact mental health?
Body shaming can lead to mental health problems and poor body image. Some of the possible outcomes are:
- Low self-esteem
- Reduced self-respect
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Social anxiety
- Social withdrawal
- Isolation
- Greater body dissatisfaction
The internalization of weight stigma has been linked with several psychological and behavioral outcomes such as depression, anxiety, body shame, and eating disorders (Pearl et al., 2018).
It is incorrect to claim that body shaming is the only factor leading to depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders. They usually have more than one biological, psychological, and social component. Body-image disturbances may also be accompanied by self-harming or suicidal behavior.
How can body shaming affect eating behaviors?
It can shape a person's approach to what they eat, how much they eat, and exercise. Some may react to body-related comments in a manner that reflects restrictive eating, constant dieting, binge eating, purging, or extreme exercise. A systematic review conducted on 242 studies identified a clear association between higher weight bias and disordered eating cognitions and behaviors like body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, negative weight control practices, and binge eating (Levinson et al., 2024).
Body shaming and eating disorders
Some examples of eating disorders, which are characterized by mental and physical health problems, are as follows:
- Anorexia nervosa which may be characterized by food restriction and a fear of weight gain
- Bulimia nervosa which entails regular binge eating and associated compensatory actions
- Binge-eating disorder, which includes recurring episodes of loss-of-control eating
Body shaming does not necessarily mean that a person is suffering from an eating disorder, as anyone regardless of their body weight and gender, can be affected. Body appearance cannot predict whether a person has an eating disorder (NIMH, 2024).
Body shaming and body dysmorphic disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder is simply characterized by severe preoccupation with imaginary defects or slight flaws in one’s appearance that others cannot see. People who are struggling with appearance-related distress may face challenges in different areas of life. However, body shaming does not necessarily result in body dysmorphic disorder, but it might negatively impact one’s body image.
Can body shaming have an impact on physical health?
Body shaming can have an impact on physical health indirectly by bring sense of shame, stress, strict dieting, binging, or any other unhealthy behavior.
Excessive restriction of food, purging, or extreme exercising can result in physical effects. Eating disorders themselves can have medical implications, and sometimes even become life-threatening (NIMH, 2024).
Stigma around weight can also deter people from accessing health care services. According to one systematic review, perceived or experienced discrimination is among the factors that lead people to avoid health care (Wilkinson et al., 2017).
It is necessary to engage in healthy behavior without shaming individuals. Health issues should be resolved through proper health care with genuine support rather than being accompanied by shame, guilt and internal criticism.
Impact of body shaming on children and teens
Childhood and teen years are critical phases of life that determine an individual’s self-concept, self-worth, and body image. It is during this period that teens can become especially sensitive to peer acceptance and evaluation. Body shaming can occur at any place be it home, school, among peers, or on social media. Using appearance-based social media increases the chances for comparison and criticism.
In such an environment, adults can play an active role by not criticizing based on appearance and fostering an environment where children and teens are appreciated for what they can do, whom they can connect with, who they are, and their accomplishments.
How can you combat the consequences of body shaming?
Body neutrality and body acceptance
Body neutrality focuses away from one’s appearance and on one’s capabilities, experiences, and beliefs. The focus is on what can be done by the body rather than whether it looks "good." For many it can seem unnecessary to love everything about their body to have a better relationship with it.
Challenge your thoughts
Become aware of negative thoughts and challenge yourself with them to become more compassionate with yourself. You could ask yourself:
- Is this true or is it an opinion?
- Where did I get this idea?
- Do I talk to my loved ones this way?
- Can I describe myself without judging my physical appearance?
Practice healthier behaviors on social media.
Assess the social media profiles you are following. Think about muting or unfollowing those who tend to make you feel inferior or ashamed. Another thing that media literacy will teach you is that the photo is always posed, filtered, or just partially shown.
Set boundaries with people who practice body shaming.
You can share your thoughts and feelings to the other person in a clear and polite manner to maintain healthy boundaries, like “I don't appreciate any comments made about my body” or “Please don't make any comments regarding my weight or appearance”. If you still experience persistent body shaming even after setting boundaries, limited interactions would be ideal for your safety.
Call out body shaming when witnessed
When it is safe to do so, confront harmful statements or comments in a respectful way. The person being body-shamed might not always feel confident sharing what they are feeling easily, and if you can take a stand to reduce it for them in a supportive and healthy manner, then it can instill hope in others to understand the concern with genuineness.
What actions should parents take to avoid body shaming?
Parents themselves could serve as examples for the children because the latter get a notion of body image through observation. They can:
- Abstain from frequent remarks regarding the weight and looks of their kids
- Abstain from judging the bodies of other people
- Use impartial language when speaking of food and exercises
- Prioritize the functionality of the body rather than its looks
- Surround the kids with a variety of body shapes and features
- Motivate them to develop traits like compassion, creativity, resilience, connections, and competence
When should you consider professional help?
Professional help is needed when body image concerns start impacting:
- Your psychological well-being
- Eating habits
- Psychological well-being
- Love life
- School or job
- General daily activities
Professional help is particularly recommended if there is a lot of unhealthy eating habits, extreme body image issues, compulsive behavior, self-harming actions, or suicide attempts.
Eating disorders are serious conditions; however, treatment and recovery are possible (NIMH, 2024). A mental health professional, doctor, a dietician specializing in eating disorders, or a multidisciplinary team will help in determining what kind of professional help is needed.
If the person is having thoughts about committing suicide or feels he/she may hurt him/herself, professional or emergency help should be immediately obtained.
Conclusion
Body shaming can have ramifications extending beyond the individual’s self-respect. Continuous attacks on the way one looks could result in body dissatisfaction, psychological problems, unhealthy eating habits, isolation from others, and refusal to go to the doctor. On the other hand, body shaming must not be considered the sole cause of mental disorders or eating disorders. Most of the time, they develop due to several intertwined causes.
Nobody needs to look alike, and health issues cannot be overlooked either. The thing that matters is the respectful approach to the issue of health and the absence of dependency of dignity on one’s appearance.
FAQ
References
Argitis, P., et al. (2025). The impact of social media on adolescent body image: A comprehensive review. Cureus, 17 (4), eXXXXXXX. Open-access article via PubMed Central
Levinson, J. A., Kinkel-Ram, S., Myers, B., & Hunger, J. M. (2024). A systematic review of weight stigma and disordered eating cognitions and behaviors. Body Image, 48, 101678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101678
Mironica, A., Popescu, C. A., George, D., & Tezsezis, A. M. (2024). Social media influence on body image and cosmetic surgery considerations: A systematic review. Cureus, 16(7), e65626. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.65626
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Eating disorders: What you need to know. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. NIMH — Eating Disorders
Pearl, R. L., Puhl, R. M., & Brownell, K. D. (2018). Weight bias internalization and health: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 19(8), 1141–1163. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12763
Wilkinson, J. M., Brown, R., & colleagues. (2017). Obesity and healthcare avoidance: A systematic review. AIMS Public Health, 4(5), 418–433. Open-access article via PubMed Central
