Body positivity vs. body neutrality

Body positivity and body neutrality are terms describing different approaches to the way you see your body. They describe the relationship you build with your appearance, body shape, and body size, and how much emphasis you place on these things in your life.

Body positivity

Body positivity has gained popularity, providing a way for people of all shapes and sizes to learn to accept the way they look. In fact, body positivity goes far beyond simply accepting your appearance. Instead, it focuses on embracing your body and being proud of it.

Body positivity promotes self-love and acceptance. It encourages people to feel confident in themselves and all of their unique physical features. It rejects the negative ideations and perceptions that the media promotes, and teaches people how to truly love their bodies.

Body neutrality

Body neutrality, on the other hand, places emphasis on taking a non-judgmental approach to the way you look. It’s less about forcing positivity and, instead, detaches self-worth from physical appearance.

The body neutrality approach suggests redirecting your attention and energy towards other aspects of your life and body, instead of focusing solely on the way it looks. For example, you might focus on how functional your body is and the way it produces energy from food, or how resilient it is to the harsh toxins or stressors in modern-day life, or how many amazing things it enables you to experience every day.

Body neutrality allows you to exist beyond the constraints of your physical body and live life without too much focus on your appearance.