According to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS):

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  The five most popular cosmetic surgical procedures were nose reshaping, liposuction, breast augmentation, eyelid surgery and facelift.
• There were 2.5 times more Botox Cosmetic® procedures performed in 2003 than in the previous year.
• About 3% of all cosmetic surgery is performed on people younger than 19. The top procedure is nose reshaping.

Cosmetic plastic surgery demographics

• Women made up 86 percent, the majority, of all cosmetic plastic surgery patients.
• 35- to 50-year-olds made up 45 percent of all cosmetic plastic surgery patients, the largest age group overall.
• Over 12 years, from 1992 to 2003, the number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures by ASPS members has increased 424 percent.

People may be motivated to such actions for health reasons, yet how much more often are such risks taken out of a need for self-acceptance and self-love? Both these qualities significantly impact our ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships with others. Family and romantic relationships are affected when we or the ones we love view our bodies in less than healthy ways.

And there’s no doubt you can improve your romantic relationships by nurturing and supporting a positive body image. In addition, learning how to reinforce and even enhance your significant other’s positive body image will strengthen your bond with them.

The TRUE Compatibility Test gives you a unique look inside your psychological makeup, but also take a close look at the outside of yourself in the mirror. How do you feel about what you see? Your response links back to that psychological make-up in a big way.

Body image is the mental picture you have of your body, along with your feelings, thoughts and judgments about your body.

1. Why is it important to have a healthy or positive body image?

People have a healthy body image when they are comfortable with their bodies and have positive and self-confident feelings toward themselves. Research reveals that body image is a major contributor to overall life happiness — this includes physical, psychological and sexual aspects of life. Body image forms early in life, and childhood and adolescent physical activity impacts adults’ later attitudes and behaviors related to physical activity. A recent study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that body image throughout adolescence also affects the development of attitudes and behaviors associated with romantic relations. Better body image correlates with enhanced relations, connectedness and attraction.

On the other hand, people with negative body images:

• may have low self-esteem
• may be uncomfortable participating in physical activities
• are more likely to become preoccupied with weight and dieting
• are at risk of developing an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia
• may lose interest in school, work, or socializing
• may try to feel better by using illicit drugs, alcohol, unsafe tattooing or piercing, or unsafe sexual activity with multiple partners

2. What does it mean to have a negative body image?

It means not liking your body, weight or specific body parts. It may also include disliking your hair, skin color or facial features. It’s very common for women and men to have some degree of body image dissatisfaction. Generally speaking, sexual attractiveness, weight concern and physical condition all work together to produce a person’s body image.

Some of the things that may negatively affect body image are:

• influence of media and popular culture
• experiences of physical or sexual abuse
• a parent or loved one who is preoccupied with their weight and dieting
• being teased, bullied or harassed based on size, gender, skin color or physical abilities
• physical changes in the body at different stages of life such as puberty and pregnancy and even male hair loss in middle age
• participation in activities where extreme thinness is promoted, such as dance, gymnastics and modeling

3. How can I promote a healthy body image in myself and in loved ones?

There is considerable evidence that body image is an elastic construct, which can be influenced positively or negatively by environmental and internal factors. Encourage your significant other and other loved ones to read and talk about this important health issue. The following suggestions can be used with people of all ages. One of the most crucial elements is that individuals develop a rational and healthy relationship with food.

Three steps toward this goal are to:

• Try not to use food as a reward or punishment.
• Teach yourself to listen to your body and to trust its messages. It is okay to eat if you are hungry, even if it is not a meal time.
• Understand nutrition and the health benefits of various foods, instead of telling yourself food is either good or bad.

Ways to promote a healthy body image in loved ones:

• Compliment yourself and loved ones often on strengths, accomplishments and efforts, instead of focusing on weight, size or appearance. The Journal of Psychosomatic Research recently published a study which showed that people with unhealthy eating habits responded more to subliminal cues that emphasized fatness, whereas those with healthy eating habits responded more to subliminal cues that emphasized thinness.This means that people can be impacted by unconscious messages and reinforcements of body image, as well as by overt or explicit messages.
  
• Following from above, surround yourself with overt and subtle reinforcements for a positive body image: friends who are uplifting and accepting of you, people who inspire you to take care of yourself through diet and exercise; if junk food must be kept in the house for others, put it out of your sight and hopefully out of reach; play upbeat music at home and when you travel — sad songs can unconsciously motivate you to want to lift your mood with comfort foods; make it a habit to drink water all day long; walk outside as much as possible; and enjoy learning to cook fun and healthy dishes at home, playing sexy or upbeat music while you do so! This technique of playing sexy music can be applied to any conscious effort you are making to enhance body image: exercising, cooking, drinking water, getting ready for a date, reading magazines that feature realistic photos of men and women, etc. — the trick is you want to start consciously and unconsciously associating your activities with as many stimuli as you can that mean sexy to you — be it music or other enticing sounds (such as a trickling water or waves crashing on the shore), scents (incense or candles), or visible cues (certain colors, flowers or mood lighting).
  
• Consider not having scales in the house and avoid commenting on your own weight concerns. Never use words like “fat,” “ugly” or “disgusting” to describe yourself or others. Make a conscious effort to regard yourself and others consistently in positively worded terms. This may be difficult at first, but it’s okay to fake it ’till you make it!
  
• Initiate activities that involve getting outside the house and being active. Research shows that those who exercise several times a week report higher levels of self-perceived attractiveness than those who exercise once a week or less. Consult with your doctor on the best program for you, but exercise will make you look and, most importantly, feel good inside and out. Plus, you’ll gain a valuable sense of control over your own body image.
  
• Be a role model so your loved ones (including children) can see that size and appearance don’t limit one’s activities, ambitions or achievements.
  
• Recognize that weight gain, like other developmental changes, is a normal part of growth, development and aging. It is unrealistic to expect that your body shape and weight will never fluctuate.
  
• Teach yourself and others to appreciate diversity — the variety of heights, weights, sizes, skin colors and physical abilities that naturally exist and which make people unique and interesting.
  
• Make the time to talk to your significant other about what is going on in his or her life. Try to create a loving environment where he or she will feel safe talking to you about any concerns he or she has about body image. For yourself, make time to share with close friends or family.

Learn more now

Take our free TRUE Compatibility Test (TCT) to learn more about yourself and your ideal partner. You’ll receive a free 30-page personality report that explains how your traits, attitudes and abilities influence your connections with others. For more expert tips on building a great relationship click here.