Body neutrality emerges as antidote to toxic beauty culture

In our looks-obsessed culture, it's a sad truth that many people, especially young folks, develop negative feelings about their bodies. The body positivity movement tried to tackle this by encouraging self-love and acceptance of diverse body types. However, more experts now argue that body neutrality may be a more realistic and mentally healthy approach.

The core idea behind body neutrality is rejecting the flawed notion that our bodies carry some inherent moral value based purely on their physical appearance. Rather than pushing for an idealized vision of loving one's body unconditionally, neutrality encourages appreciating our bodies for their incredible capabilities – what they enable us to do and experience – not just how they look. For those struggling with body image issues, eating disorders, or intense pressure to conform to narrow beauty ideals, this shift in perspective can provide major relief.

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, professionals like Brenna Schmader, the Nutrition Educator and Coordinator, are spearheading this move toward body and food neutrality on campus. Schmader believes while well-intentioned, the body positivity movement sometimes became counterproductive by setting an unrealistic bar of feeling positive about one's body 24/7. As she explains, "We don't want to ascribe moral value to food because there's already so much of that happening with eating disorders and disordered eating."

Schmader's work involves guiding students toward balanced eating habits, mindfulness practices, and self-compassion. Her goal? Helping them find equilibrium and decouple their self-worth from their physical appearance. After all, eating disorders don't discriminate – they can impact anyone regardless of gender, sex, or identity. Plus, research indicates body image issues often arise from constantly comparing ourselves to unrealistic societal ideals amplified by social media and toxic diet culture.

A recent Daily Nebraskan poll, with only 57 respondents, reveals just how widespread this issue is, with 38.5% of women, 35.9% of men, and a staggering 61.1% of non-binary UNL students reporting body dissatisfaction. These numbers scream for more inclusive, holistic approaches to nurturing body acceptance.

The fallout from negative body image can be severe – fueling disordered eating, body dysmorphia, and a slew of other mental and physical health problems. Schmader stresses using mindful language around weight and looks, avoiding words that moralize body size, and limiting social media, which often intensifies unhealthy comparisons.

UNL provides resources like the Wellness Kitchen's $25 meal kits, cooking classes promoting balanced nutrition and cultural appreciation, and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) therapy for body image issues, eating disorders, and body dysmorphia – prioritizing early intervention.

As CAPS counselor Casey Tallent advises, those broaching concerns should lead with empathy using prompts like "what I see," "what I fear," and "what I hope" – voicing care while validating the person's worth.

Ultimately, body neutrality isn't about chasing an ideal look or forcing self-love. It's cultivating a mindset honoring our bodies' astounding capabilities, regardless of shape, size, or society's narrow beauty standards. By shifting focus from appearances to functionality, we start appreciating our bodies as the remarkable vessels they are, empowering us to live, learn, grow, and thrive in myriad ways.

As Schmader notes, "Everybody's body is different, but just because someone doesn't have a little belly doesn't mean they're healthy." True wellbeing transcends looks, and body neutrality offers a compassionate path to self-acceptance in a world fixated on unattainable beauty myths.