Body image

Let's just put it out there right away: no one should be expected to look a certain way and there's no such thing as a 'perfect' or 'normal' body. What you see online and on social media have usually been digitally altered, sometimes significantly, so it's different to what you might look like in real life. These influences on body image mean that as a young adult or teen, body image can be a particularly stressful area to navigate.

The resources here can help you understand your own body, overcome body image issues and help you feel happy, healthy and embrace body neutrality.

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Understanding body image

Body image is just the way you think about your physical self. If you have unhealthy body image, that’s okay– there are ways to help.

Body dysmorphic disorder

If you hate something about your body and these feelings are interfering with your everyday life, you may have body dysmorphic disorder.

Photo of a group of four young people walking outdoors in a park smiling and looking at each other like they're in the middle of a conversation.

Understanding what it means to be intersex

Here's your introductory guide to understanding intersex people and the challenges they may face day to day.

5 ways to give compliments that aren't about a person's looks

Here’s how you can give people meaningful compliments that don’t reinforce ideas about how they’re meant to look.

Illustration of three men, one holding a cat, one with a tennis racket, and one smiling in a coat and scarf, against a pink background.

3 gay men reflect on their body image

Negative body image can affect anyone. Hear the stories of 3 young gay men, giving advice to their younger selves.

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How Felicia Foxx learnt to deal with her body image issues

Felicia Foxx shares her body image struggles and how she has come to accept herself.

Guys and body image

Although girls and women stereotypically experience body image issues, it’s becoming increasingly common among guys.

Being bigger doesn’t mean being unhealthy

Recently, a large amount of scientific evidence has suggested that it’s possible to be healthy at any size.

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Garra's story of recovering from an eating disorder

Garra shares her experience of recovering from an eating disorder as an Aboriginal woman.

6 ways to be #bodypositive

Feeling good about your body or appearance isn’t always easy. We’ve got some tips to help you improve your body image and move toward being more #bodypositive

Taking care of yourself while living with bad skin

Do you know how to treat yourself kindly while you’re living with bad skin?

Image of a pink-haired teen sitting on the steps outside their home and looking at their phone. Their service dog sits at their side.

Understanding gender dysphoria

We spoke with a clinical psychologist and four young trans people to learn more about what gender dysphoria is and how to cope with it.

What men think about body image

We chatted to young guys about their body image experiences and found out what has helped them feel more comfortable in themselves.

Roxy's story of overcoming negative body image

Roxy shares her story of overcoming negative body image to feel more confident, comfortable and body positive.

Frequently asked questions about body image

Body image is how you think and feel about your body, which can be influenced by many factors in your life. It's completely normal for your body image to change over time, and there's no ‘perfect’ way to look or feel about your body.

Many people worry about things like weight, shape, skin, height, or how they compare to others. These feelings about body image are common and nothing to be ashamed of. If you’re struggling with how you feel about your body, support is available.

Body positivity is about accepting and appreciating your body for what it can do, rather than just how it looks. While it's a useful concept, many people find body neutrality to be a more helpful approach. Body neutrality is about accepting your body as it is, without pressure to always feel positive about it. It recognises that your body is just one part of who you are, and you don’t have to love or hate it. The goal is to have a more balanced relationship with your body, acknowledging that your feelings about it may change from day to day.

Social media can impact how we feel about our bodies through unrealistic images, filters, and constant comparison. Remember that most social media images are carefully selected or edited. If certain accounts make you feel bad about yourself, it's okay to take breaks or unfollow them.