“I hate my body”: Somatic Movement Practices and Body Image

Struggles with weight and body image are a part of many people’s lives. In a recent study by Frederick et al., approximately one-fifth of men (18%) and one-fourth of women (27%) reported being very-to-extremely dissatisfied with at least one of the aspects of body image in their study. 1 Troubles with fitting the narrow beauty ideal of a slim, toned, “attractive” and “desirable” body is a reality for many women. Extreme standards of feminine thinness negatively affect teenage girls’ and women’ perception of their bodies and can lead to eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia