Can You Love Your Body and Still Prioritize Health?

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only. It is not meant to offend or criticize anyone's body, lifestyle, or choices. The goal is to encourage a balanced discussion about body positivity and health. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalized medical advice.

Body positivity encourages self-acceptance and challenges unrealistic beauty standards. It promotes confidence and mental well-being. But health is just as important. A balanced approach means valuing self-acceptance while making choices that support long-term well-being.

What Body Positivity Means

According to Darwin & Miller (2021, as cited in Legault & Sago, 2022), the body positivity movement, started in the 1980s and initially aimed to empower marginalized bodies (larger bodies), it was a push for self-acceptance and rejecting unrealistic beauty standards.

Legault and Sago (2022) highlight that body positivity messaging can sometimes be controlling or pressuring, compelling individuals to accept and love their bodies even if they do not genuinely feel that way. This forced positivity can backfire, leading to increased body dissatisfaction and self-objectification.

The concept of “toxic body positivity” suggests that when individuals fail to achieve body confidence, they may perceive it as a personal weakness, exacerbating psychological stress (Legault & Sago, 2022).

However, as the movement gained popularity on social media, its message became distorted. Instead of promoting self-care and balanced well-being, some content now glorifies unhealthy lifestyles under the guise of self-love (Ferguson, 2024). Body positivity is about appreciating your body for what it does, not just how it looks. It resists social pressures that fuel low self-esteem and eating disorders. But self-acceptance doesn’t mean ignoring health risks.

Health Risks of Obesity

Excess weight increases the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic disorders (Li, 2019). In Eat to Beat Disease, Dr. William Li explains that visceral fat triggers inflammation, weakens the body’s defenses, and raises the chances of heart disease and stroke (Li, 2019). Understanding these risks helps in making informed health decisions.

Eating for Health

According to Li (2019), specific foods and beverages can help activate the individual angiogenesis defense system while maintaining a healthy state of balance. By ingesting the right foods it can help prevent diseases such as arthritis, endometriosis, and obesity.

The author points out that good nutrition is essential for well-being, and many of these beneficial foods are easy to find in any grocery store, making them simple to include in everyday meals.

Table 1 Foods that stimulate Angiogenesis, an adaptation of the original table (Li, 2019)

Movement and Well-Being

Exercise strengthens the heart, improves mental health, and enhances quality of life. The best exercise is the one you enjoy, whether it’s walking, swimming, dancing, or yoga. Regular movement, combined with balanced nutrition, supports both physical and mental health while keeping your mind clear.

It all comes down to building habits that last. If sticking to new routines feels challenging, try using a habit tracker to stay accountable and motivated.

A Balanced Approach

You can accept yourself and still aim for better health. Self-care includes eating well, staying active, and seeking preventive healthcare. Taking care of your body isn’t about conforming to beauty standards, it’s about feeling good and staying healthy.

Conclusion

Body positivity challenges harmful norms and promotes self-acceptance. But ignoring health risks isn’t self-care. As Li (2019) explains, small, sustainable changes in diet and lifestyle can lower the risk of chronic illness. A realistic approach to body positivity values both self-love and well-being.

For more in-depth information about the Angiogenesis defense system and the foods that you should include in your diet check the Eat to Beat Disease.

References:

Legault, L., & Sago, A. (2022). When body positivity falls flat: Divergent effects of body acceptance messages that support vs. undermine basic psychological needs. Body Image, 41, 225–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.02.013

Ferguson, S. (2024, May 2). Is there a relationship between social media and body image? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/social-media-and-body-image#negative-effects