POSITION STATEMENTS

COSMETIC SURGERY

Body Image and Health Inc. recognises that cosmetic surgery, which may be undertaken for a variety of reasons, can have positive benefits for an individual’s self esteem. However, we are concerned when these benefits stem from an acceptance and pursuit of socially prescribed standards of attractiveness, which are generally confined to a narrow ideal of beauty.

Our vision is of a community where people can be accepted, and can have a positive image of their own body, independent of prevailing notions of body ideals. Our work within the community is aimed at promoting practices that will encourage acceptance of the natural diversity of body weights, shapes and looks, and at challenging those elements of our society that maintain and promote narrowly defined ideals of beauty.

We encourage people to consider alternative methods to feel good about their bodies, such as education, counselling and therapy groups which address body image and self esteem. We also encourage people to seek full information about the costs and dangers of any cosmetic surgery contemplated.

Foot notes:

Examples of situations where cosmetic surgery can be beneficial :

- to improve appearance after an accident or injury (eg burns or fracture)

- to reduce back pain resulting from very large breasts

- to help reduce teasing especially amongst children, due to severe marking (eg birthmark)

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Your weight is influenced by many factors including genetics, ageing, hormonal influences, your eating and level of physical activity. Some of these you can change, others you cannot.

The key to successfully managing your weight is to focus on making realistic changes to your lifestyle rather than focussing on changing your body. The problem with short term approaches is that they can put your health at risk and are extremely difficult to maintain. Understanding the reasons for being the weight you are can help you plan a lifestyle which you can sustain. This will enable you to reach and/or maintain a healthy weight for you.

A healthy approach includes being physically active and generally eating what your body needs, including a wide variety of foods. This is healthier than when most of your eating is triggered by psychological needs such as boredom or comfort, rather than physical hunger, or when your eating is dictated by rigid dietary rules (in the absence of medical conditions requiring such restriction).

IDEAL WEIGHT

There is a widely held perception that there is an “ideal” weight for each individual. However there is no universally accepted way of defining or measuring an “ideal” weight, nor is it a helpful concept. At best, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist circumference give us only an approximate guide to healthy weight levels. The important thing for you as an individual is to find a weight range that is healthy, realistic and comfortable for you, not compared to anyone else.

Our healthy weight may vary from time to time, so there is no single weight or clothes size that any particular person is meant to be, or stay at, all their adult life.

Make efforts to look after yourself and your body in the best way you can, and your weight will evolve to the healthiest level that is possible.

HEALTHY EATING

BIH Inc aims to help people adopt a lifelong approach to healthy eating by encouraging positive attitudes, thoughts and feelings towards food and eating. Healthy eating is not just about what you eat but how you eat. It involves enjoying a wide variety of foods without feeling guilty, and paying attention to your body which can tell you when you are physically hungry, full or just satisfied.

BIH Inc discourages restrictive eating for the purpose of achieving a culturally defined ideal.

Fact Sheets

Research Summaries