Women and Body Image

As women, we all want to look and feel our best. This is not always easy, considering the busy life today's woman leads and the many responsibilities she may have. It can be tough to find time for exercising and eating right, not to mention controlling stress! Sometimes women can feel pressured to look and feel a certain way. We live in a culture in America that puts much emphasis on physical appearance. Youth is admired as well - not just in terms of age but also in terms of young attitudes and outlooks on life and physical fitness. Developing and nurturing a positive body image and a healthy mental attitude is crucial to our happiness and wellness, as we move through the different stages of our lives.

Body image and our health and well being

Our health, which we sometimes can and cannot control, affects not just how we feel but how we look. Our body image - how we feel about how we look - can change when we have a health condition or illness, such as a skin disease or a disease like cancer. The good news is that information truly is power. Learning about how our health affects our body image is an important first step in developing a positive body image.

As we live longer lives and enjoy far greater social, economic, and reproductive freedom than women have ever before, our risk for chronic diseases and other health concerns increases. Chronic diseases and health concerns can have an affect on a woman's body image. Pregnancy and menopause, natural life events women experience, can also affect body image.

Take care of your health! Develop a positive body image!

The National Women's Health Information Center has provided you with information to help you take care of your health and to develop a positive body image. The following resources focus on some of the top health concerns that can affect a woman's body image. Information and resources are provided for each health concern. For additional topics, please visit our A-Z Search.

Health Concerns that Can Affect A Woman's Body Image:

* Aging
* Alopecia
* Cancer
* Cosmetic Surgery
* Diabetes
* HIV and AIDS
* Lupus
* Menopause
* Oral Health
* Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Infertility
* Pregnancy
* Skin Disorders and Scarring

NOTE: For other specific health-related information on "Women's Health", please refer to our A-Z search and search on the terms "Women's Health" or please call the National Women's Health Information Center's Information and Referral Service at (800)-994-WOMAN or by TDD (888) 220-5446.