Body Image + Self-Esteem
How Does Body Image Impact Self-Esteem?
You may have read our webpage on Body Image but in case you haven’t, here’s what you need to know: body image is the way a person perceives their body. This includes four components—how you see, think about, feel about, and respond to your body. For many of us (and probably many of you reading this), body image can skew negative, leading us to believe that if we were in “better” bodies, we’d live better lives.
Self-esteem, on the other hand, is how we value and perceive ourselves more broadly. There’s definitely some overlap here, right? But while body image is focused on appearance, self-esteem includes our sense of worth based on our character, spirit, and mind.
Just like body image, self-esteem can be healthy or unhealthy. So what does healthy self-esteem look like?
Healthy self-esteem might look like:
Setting and maintaining boundaries with others
Accepting—and even liking—who you are
Feeling capable of tackling challenges
Practicing regular self-care without guilt
Believing in your own worth
Unhealthy self-esteem might look like:
Avoiding activities where you fear failure
Basing your worth solely on achievements
Frequently criticizing yourself
Constantly comparing yourself to others
People-pleasing at the expense of your needs
Struggling to accept compliments
The Link Between Body Image and Self-Esteem
When someone has a poor body image, the impact goes far beyond just disliking how they look. It makes sense—after all, we live with our bodies every moment of every day. If we feel negatively about them, it can significantly affect our mood, outlook, and daily behavior.
Think of “power posing” for confidence: standing with your shoulders back and chest open can actually make you feel more powerful. Conversely, when we’re insecure about our bodies, we might hunch over, cover up certain areas with clothing, or try to make ourselves less visible. These subtle changes in posture reflect a deeper discomfort—and can affect how we interact with the world around us.
Body insecurity can shape how we show up in social spaces, limit our emotional availability, and distract us from enjoying life’s moments. Over time, this creates a harmful cycle: the more we feel insecure, the more we try to “fix” our appearance or avoid situations that make us feel self-conscious. This only deepens negative thoughts and reinforces feelings of inadequacy.
How to Improve Body Image and Boost Self-Esteem
We have an entire blog post dedicated to improving body image, but here’s the quick version:
To improve body image:
Swap negative self-talk with words of kindness and self-love
Focus on what your body can do, not just how it looks
Ground yourself in the present moment—notice what’s around you
Wear clothes that fit well and feel comfortable
Give yourself space to grieve changes in your body
To boost self-esteem (especially when body image is a factor):
Avoid the comparison trap. Instead, focus on your unique strengths and qualities.
Build healthy habits that reinforce your sense of capability—like staying active, trying new things, and nourishing your body.
Identify your core values. While appearance might be one value, it’s likely not your only one. List 10 values you want to live by and lean into them.
Go to therapy. A therapist can help uncover the roots of low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction, and offer strategies to help you shift your thinking over time.
Above all, be patient with yourself! You’ve likely spent years viewing yourself through a critical lens—it will take time to build a kinder, more accepting one. And remember, progress isn’t linear. Just like in any relationship, you might love yourself deeply and still have moments of frustration. Learning to love and accept yourself—even on the hard days—is part of the process.