Why I Practice Body Neutrality Rather Than Body Positivity

The conversation surrounding body image has taken the spotlight in recent years. Advocates for body positivity, a movement rooted in increasing representation and acceptance for all body types, have created some real change in our society. Just the other day, I was ordering some new clothes, and was surprised to see brands initially stubborn to the body positivity movement displaying diverse models. The body positivity movement is one that seeks to be not only inclusive of others, but also to make individuals love their body more. After struggling with body image for years, the body positivity movement gained my interest. However, it was difficult for me to “love” my body right away when there were still so many lingering insecurities of mine. Then a couple of years ago, I heard of “body neutrality”. The movement offers an alternative to body positivity. Rather than trying to “love” your flaws (because let’s be honest, it’s easier said than done), body neutrality’s central message is to simply accept your body as it is, from a place of nonjudgement.

Growing up as social media began to emerge, it was difficult not to compare my body to those I saw on TV or the internet. The body positivity movement didn’t garner real publicity until my early high school years, so diverse body types weren’t represented as much when I was younger. Most influencers and celebrities portrayed in the media had unattainable body types for me. Around the time that I entered high school, body dysmorphia and disordered eating crowded my thoughts and started to affect my life. I constantly overanalyzed what I ate and how I looked, which wore me down both physically and mentally. Now, nearly five years later, I have left that person I once was behind. However, learning to heal a broken body image took time and patience. As body positivity went mainstream, I was embarking on my own journey to self-love. There was a pressure to just love my body wholly, but ironically, this mindset backfired for me. I felt as though the only path to liberate myself from harmful eating and thought patterns was to love how I looked. This proved to be challenging, and I believe it made self-love harder in the end. So, when I discovered body neutrality, it fascinated me. 

Body neutrality ultimately provides a way to find peace with your body image, while removing the need to love your body. It might sound contradictory, but I believe the first step to truly loving yourself is accepting your flaws, too. You don’t have to love your body; perhaps there is a lot you are unhappy with when you look in the mirror. Taking a neutral standpoint, however, allows you to be okay with how you look despite what you want to change, while not acting on those impulses to alter your appearance. You may not think you look amazing, but there is no need to put yourself down either. This body was given to you to experience life with, from traveling to new places, to exercising, and eating delicious food, too.

I love the concept of body neutrality because it’s a mindset that can be adopted immediately. If body positivity feels unrealistic to you, try adopting a neutral point of view and take a nonjudgmental stance. While you don’t have to absolutely love how you look on the outside, embracing your body and all you have to offer within is crucial to mental health and wellness, and the first step to true self-love.

• body neutrality
• body positivity
• self-love