Many of us are self-conscious about the way we look. However, there are certain aspects of our body that cause us more anxiety than others. This post explores the five parts of our physical appearance that we get most concerned about, and how to build body confidence.
Body shape (65%)
One study found that body shape was the aspect of our appearance that we are most self-conscious about – 65% of surveyed adults between the ages of 25 and 45 were concerned about their figure.
Of all the aspects of our appearance that causes us concern, this tends to be the one that we can actively alter the most. Through dieting and exercise we can lose weight or build muscle. And for those of us that find this too hard, there are still other solutions like wearing certain clothing to alter our shape or even undergoing surgery.
Of course, there are limitations as to what we can do with our body, and ultimately we are all born with different bone structures and metabolisms. This is often key to remember when learning to become less self-conscious of our body shape.
Hair (61%)
61% of 25 to 45 year olds were self-conscious of their hair. Texture, color, hair loss, thinning, dandruff and hair style are elements of our hair that can cause us concern.
While you can change your hairstyle, there is only so much you can do to change the type of hair you have. It’s therefore important to embrace your hair type and remember that every hair type can be styled in its own unique and fashionable ways. Issues like dandruff are often possible to treat, while there are ways to add volume to thinning hair. For those with serious balding or hair issues, shaving it all off is always another solution (it’s becoming more acceptable for both men and women to go bald nowadays, plus wigs are more fashionable and realistic than ever).
Teeth (61%)
The same survey found that 61% of 25 to 45 year olds were also self-conscious about their smile. While there are many reasons that people don’t like their smile, it’s almost always down to not liking the appearance of our teeth.
Nowadays, there are many different dental treatments out there to make our teeth look better, from dental implants to clear braces to laser whitening. These are worth investing in if you really don’t like your teeth or if you have dental problems that are causing pain/infection. If you can’t afford these, remember that any smile is more attractive than no smile – don’t let self-consciousness surrounding your teeth stop you from expressing joy.
Skin (60%)
Another study found that 60% of Americans are self-conscious about their skin. This is for various different reasons ranging from skin conditions like acne to age-related symptoms like wrinkles.
Skincare products and make-ups can sometimes help to improve our skin, and when these fail there are a range of different cosmetic procedures to choose from including Botox and chemical peels and laser therapy. However, we cannot change everything about our skin, and it’s important to embrace the aspects that we cannot change
Height (48%)
Finally, it’s worth talking about height. 48% of people surveyed were self-conscious about it – with shortness being the main concern among both men and women.
Unlike other aspects of our physical appearance, height is the most difficult to make any drastic changes to. There’s only so high you can do with platform shoes! This is therefore something that has to be embraced if you want to find peace. This post explores some tips on how to be less self-conscious about your height.
