Exercise and Body Image Reaction Essay
Now more than ever pressure is being placed on people to have the ”perfect body.” For men this term is no longer perceived as being big, but rather lean and bulky; and for women is one of being thin and toned. Although we live in an instant society where we want things now and at the push of a button, plastic surgery and quick fix diets aren’t the long lasting cure, exercise is.
Exercise has been shown to improve all different types of hindrances that we as humans face; depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and obesity to name a few. After reading this article, it was shown that exercise also helps to create a positive body image. Researchers had 3 different categories: experimental vs. control group,
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“For the elderly, the smaller effect sizes typically evidenced may be a reflection of their body image being linked to their body’s functioning and physical capabilities, and not to appearance-oriented criterion.” (Hausenblas, 40). Elderly people, unlike teens and adults who workout for the ideal body, are physically active due to keeping in health and for the social aspect. By joining a small exercise program, they can make friends, find partners to motivate and support them, and still get in the recommended level of activity needed, all while keeping in shape.
In this article only one study was located that “examined the acute effects of exercise on body image,” (Hausenblaus, 42) due to this the authors did not go into much detail. However, from personal experience, exercising just one time after having remained sedentary, I tend to view myself differently. Due to the fact, that I know I went and worked out gives me confidence and increases my self-efficacy. After the next couple of days, when soreness kicks in, it acts as a motivator, making me want to go exercise more and more, each day, thus, increasing my body
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It has been proven time and time again that exercise is the main answer to all of our problems. Aiding in things such as improving psychological illness, emotional health, and cognitive function, it’s a mystery why more Americans do not engage in the recommended levels of physical activity daily. With pressure on now more than ever to have the “perfect body” all it takes is a little motivation, determination, and exercise, and you are on your
Pate et al. (1995) stated that physical activity is needed for health promotion and disease prevention. They also stated that every adult should do at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise everyday if possible. Moderate intensity exercising includes activities such as brisk walking and cycling as stated by the Department of Health (2011). They also state that regular physical activity will improve a person’s mental health as it will increase self esteem and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Physical wellbeing is also enhanced by an increase in physical activity. The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2002) found that in developed countries 20% of heart disease and 10% of strokes are due to physical inactivity. Furthermore a lack of physical activity is found to cause 3% of all diseases.
The Perfect Body In today's society, women are obsessed with having a specific body type to make others find them attractive. They want to feed the society’s body type expectations. What is a perfect body? Does it even exist? However, advertising, boyfriends, and family members often make women feel that skinny bodies are perfect bodies.
This is disturbing, not only because so many people are missing out on the physical benefits that result from exercise, but on the mental benefits that result from exercise as well
It is a well known fact that obesity is a leading cause of many diseases worldwide. Maintaing a healthy lifestyle can not only prevent obesity, thus avoiding these diseases - it can also cause disease to regress if stored adipose tissue is lost. Evidence supports that the physical act of exercise has a positive effect on our metal and physical well being through many different pathways and some are more clear than others. However, decreasing the world’s population of obese individuals would in turn lessen the number of people suffering from a plethora of preventable diseases and ailments. We just have to remember that if we burn what we eat we are on the pathway to a long and healthy life.
There are two types of body image. The first type is healthy and positive and healthy body image. The other would then be the opposite, unhealthy and negative body image.
There are three variables that affect the body image one perceives about themselves, the first according to Thompson and Stice is “internalization if the thin-deal, that is, the endorsement of the media-prescribed ideal as part of one’s own personal belief system” (Thompson & Stice qtd. in Ashikali et al. 143). (Alvarez 4)
Exercise is often thought of in a positive light. It is common belief in today’s society that a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine will lead to a long, healthy life. And in the simplest sense of the word, it will.
Body image dissatisfaction is increasingly identified as an essential target for public health action ( Paxton , 2002, P. 2) Body image refers to a person’s unique perception of his or her body. It is how we perceive our selves, how we think we appear to others and how we feel about our looks from “our own internal view”. ( Nio, 2003, P3). This internal view is associated with the person’s feelings thoughts and evaluations. It can either be positive or negative. Negative body image could be associated with low self esteem. This could include low willingness to be involved in activities due to poor body image. Self-esteem is an important psychological need of human beings. It is very essential for a person to have a positive body image in order to face and overcome challenges in life. It helps to boost motivation and mental attitude.
Self-concept is one's view of one's characteristics. There is a strong link between positive self-esteem and physical, especially, mental health. Exercise improves our mind-set or mood and puts our mind in a more positive state. In the long term, exercise influences one to like one’s physical self – the capacities and physique. Last, but not least, in both short and long term, exercise furnishes one with a feeling of achievement that boosts one's confidence and esteem. (Schmidt, M., Blum, M., Valkanover, S., & Conzelmann, A.,
Exercise is a major key when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. Although there are many different types of exercise as well as different types of intensity levels, depending on age, weight, gender, disease, etc., some types of exercise are better than others. Regardless of the type of workout, exercise helps control weight and certain health conditions and diseases. It also helps people be more positive and boost their energy.
Regular physical activity is an important part of effective weight loss and weight maintenance. It also can help prevent several diseases and improve your overall health. It does not matter what type of physical activity you perform--sports, planned exercise, household chores, yard work, or work-related tasks--all are beneficial. Studies show that even the most inactive people can gain significant health benefits if they accumulate 30 minutes or more of physical activity per day. Based on these findings,
Adding exercises into one’s daily routines can change their whole lifestyle. Many people look at exercise as being something just for people who want to lose weight or to become muscle bound, but there are a great deal of benefits that can be received from exercising regularly. Of course gaining muscle and losing fat are the two most popular reasons that usually attract people to the gym, but they make up a small part of the potential benefits that can be achieved with exercise. There are several ways in which I have benefited in my life from exercising regularly, besides just making me bigger and stronger. It has made me become more organized, helped me make better decisions, and motivated me to take on new challenges in life.
It is extremely important to maintain a good body image. If a person has a decent image of their body, then they are less likely to experience depression and low self-esteem. A person has to accept himself or herself in order to feel comfortable about their body. If a person has a good body image and is happy with how their body looks, then that person will have a healthier outlook on life and practice healthier behaviors (“What Is Body Image?”). It is also
One of the best ways in how people can improve their overall mood, keep their bones healthy and even live longer, is by being an active person. Fred DeVito stated that “if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn 't change you”; however most people just want exercise just to have a fit body and be healthier without knowing great results. Other effects that exercise has into the body are normalization of glucose, insulin and leptin levels. In other words not only will it make the appearance in a person’s life to look great, but their entire body will have an extraordinary response. In order to have a more fulfilling and enjoyable life, those who are out of shape should participate in regular fitness schedule reginert.
Sedentary lifestyles have greatly contributed to obesity, and to the diseases affecting to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. It has been shown that physical inactivity reduces our strength, results in low energy levels, and causes obesity. It is therefore very essential to ensure we that lead a physically active life. Exercising regularly is the key to a healthy life. However, this is hampered by factors like lack of motivation, time and money.