When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? Plenty of us don’t. Studies have found 89 percent of American women are unhappy with their weight, and 84 percent want to lose weight.
But as any dieter knows, that’s easier said than done. And more than a third of women say concerns about what they eat or weigh actually interfere with their happiness, according to research compiled by Happify, a site devoted to the latest research on the science of happiness.
Rather than watching the number on the scale and being unhappy about it, developing a more positive body image could be better for your long-term well-being.
One way to love your body: move it! Exercise can help improve mood, and surveys have found people who exercise daily feel better about their appearance than those who don’t, no matter what they weigh.
Don’t minimize the importance of feeling good about the way you look. Body image is closely linked to self-esteem, and low self-esteem in teens can contribute to eating disorders and other risky behavior.
Happify’s infographic, below, has more ideas for boosting your body confidence.