{{Short description|Movement advocating the mental quality that seeks to accept oneself and one's body}} {{Cleanup reorganize|date=October 2025}} [[File:Bronskvinnorna, Marianne Lindberg De Geer.jpg|thumb|The sculpture of two women in bronze, ''Jag tänker på mig själv – Växjö'' ( 'I am thinking of myself – Växjö') by {{ill|Marianne Lindberg De Geer|sv}}, 2005, outside the art museum of Växjö, Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vaxjo.se/sidor/se-och-gora/kultur-och-noje/konst-och-sevardheter/vaxjo-konsthall/offentlig-konst/dold-sida-offentlig-konst/bronskvinnorna.html |title=Bronskvinnorna |trans-title=The bronze women |website=Vaxjo.se |access-date=2025-07-05 |archive-date=2019-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813072943/https://www.vaxjo.se/sidor/se-och-gora/kultur-och-noje/konst-och-sevardheter/vaxjo-konsthall/offentlig-konst/dold-sida-offentlig-konst/bronskvinnorna.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.open.edu/openlearn/society/obesity-over-time |title=Obesity over time |website=OpenLearn |access-date=2025-07-05 |archive-date=2018-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516110810/https://www.open.edu/openlearn/society/obesity-over-time |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{refn|De Geer's sculpture depicts one thin woman and one fat woman and demonstrates society's infatuation with outward appearances. The sculpture has been a source of controversy in the town, with both statues being vandalized and repaired during 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roxvall |first=Anna |date=30 November 2006 |title=Skulpturer rör upp känslor i Växjö |trans-title=Sculptures stir emotions in Växjö |language=sv |work=Svenska Dagbladet |url=https://www.svd.se/skulpturer-ror-upp-kanslor-i-vaxjo |access-date=2025-09-27 |archive-date=2020-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725231547/https://www.svd.se/skulpturer-ror-upp-kanslor-i-vaxjo |url-status=live }}</ref>|group=n}}]] The concept of '''body neutrality''' encourages the mindset that a person's bodily appearance, and attitudes towards it, should have the least possible effect on their experience of life. Its proponents assert that people should neither be celebrated for their conformance with an ideal of bodily beauty nor criticized for departure from such a condition. It may be contrasted with body positivity,<ref>{{cite web |title=Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality |url=https://www.verywellmind.com/body-positivity-vs-body-neutrality-5184565 |website=Verywell Mind |access-date=27 February 2025 |language=en |archive-date=6 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306105653/https://www.verywellmind.com/body-positivity-vs-body-neutrality-5184565 |url-status=live }}</ref>the fat acceptance movement, lookism, and body shaming. Some explanations of the body neutrality concept emphasize a body's functionality over its aesthetics.<ref name="BBCB">{{Cite news |date=October 1, 2020 |title=Telesna neutralnost: Prihvatanje tela zbog svega onog što može da uradi, ne zbog toga kako izgleda |trans-title=Body Neutrality: Accepting the body for all it can do, not what it looks like |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/svet-54087340 |access-date=September 19, 2021 |work=British Broadcasting Corporation |language=Bosnian |archive-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920230844/https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/svet-54087340 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Sophie S. |last=Whynacht |title=Body Neutrality: A Healthier Way to Relate to Your Body {{!}} Psychology Today |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/body-image-and-stigma-bias/202505/body-neutrality-a-healthier-way-to-relate-to-your-body |website=www.psychologytoday.com |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Frates |first1=Elizabeth Pegg |title=Moving to wellness while practicing body neutrality |url=https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/moving-to-wellness-while-practicing-body-neutrality-202204142727 |website=Harvard Health |access-date=27 September 2025 |language=en |date=14 April 2022}}</ref>
==Description== As the term suggests, 'body neutrality' offers a middle way between the attitudes of body negativity present in lookism and body shaming, and the all-accepting approach found in body positivity and the fat acceptance movement.<ref name="Cleveland">{{Cite web |title=Body Neutrality vs. Body Positivity |url=https://health.clevelandclinic.org/body-positivity-vs-body-neutrality |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Cleveland Clinic |language=en}}</ref>{{better|date=September 2025}}<ref name="Pinder-Ambrose">{{cite web |last1=Pinder-Ambrose |first1=Lauren |title=Body Neutrality: the Freeing Mindset? |url=https://www.mindlessmag.com/post/body-neutrality-the-freeing-mindset-1 |website=Mindless Mag |access-date=1 August 2025 |language=en |date=26 June 2020 |archive-date=10 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250810101135/https://www.mindlessmag.com/post/body-neutrality-the-freeing-mindset-1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Avoiding "toxic body positivity"=== The psychologist Susan Albers explains that the affirmations required in adopting body positivity may feel inauthentic; with body neutrality, "Your value is not tied to your body nor does your happiness depend on what you look like. A body-positive approach says you are beautiful no matter what. Period".<ref name="Cleveland"/> With regard to body positivity, researchers Lisa Legault and Anise Sago argue that an undue emphasis on body positivity can "stifle and diminish important negative feelings". They explain that negative feelings are a natural part of the human experience and that such feelings can be important and informational. They write that "ignoring negative feelings and experiences exerts a cost to authenticity and self-integration". The body positivity movement, they argue, can make it seem like a person should only feel positive emotions. This expectation to have only positive feelings is sometimes called "toxic body positivity".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Legault |first1=Lisa |last2=Sago |first2=Anise |title=When body positivity falls flat: Divergent effects of body acceptance messages that support vs. undermine basic psychological needs |journal=Body Image |date=June 2022 |volume=41 |pages=225–238 |doi=10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.02.013 |pmid=35305477 |s2cid=247506568 |url=https://psyarxiv.com/zu7rg/ |archive-date=2022-04-22 |access-date=2025-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422143741/https://psyarxiv.com/zu7rg/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Development of body neutrality== Body image is a person's perception of their physical self and their thoughts and feelings, positive and negative, as a result of that perception. With societal pressures, especially pressures linked to social media, impacting people's mental health due to body insecurity, body positivity might be challenging.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Merino |first1=Mariana |last2=Tornero-Aguilera |first2=José Francisco |last3=Rubio-Zarapuz |first3=Alejandro |last4=Villanueva-Tobaldo |first4=Carlota Valeria |last5=Martín-Rodríguez |first5=Alexandra |last6=Clemente-Suárez |first6=Vicente Javier |title=Body Perceptions and Psychological Well-Being: A Review of the Impact of Social Media and Physical Measurements on Self-Esteem and Mental Health with a Focus on Body Image Satisfaction and Its Relationship with Cultural and Gender Factors |journal=Healthcare |date=12 July 2024 |volume=12 |issue=14 |pages=1396 |doi=10.3390/healthcare12141396 |doi-access=free |pmc=11276240 |pmid=39057539 }}</ref> Body neutrality seeks to lessen the relationship between a person's health and well-being to their physical appearance.<ref name="Cleveland"/>
Since its emergence around 2015,<ref name="Conversation">{{cite web |last1=Swami |first1=Viren |title=Body neutrality: what it is and how it can help lead to more positive body image |url=https://theconversation.com/body-neutrality-what-it-is-and-how-it-can-help-lead-to-more-positive-body-image-191799 |website=The Conversation |access-date=1 August 2025 |date=6 October 2022 |archive-date=27 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527063602/https://theconversation.com/body-neutrality-what-it-is-and-how-it-can-help-lead-to-more-positive-body-image-191799 |url-status=live }}</ref> body neutrality has offered some hope even for those who struggle to find any positive attitudes towards their physical self.<ref name="Conversation" /> Experimental studies indicate that even brief exposure to body neutrality content on social media can have beneficial psychological effects, improving body satisfaction and overall mood.<ref name=":0"/>
==Body neutrality in online communities and social media==
===Overview=== Body neutrality is a topic of online discussion. This has been accompanied by research on how body neutrality is represented in online communities and what the consequences of that exposure might be. Research includes content analysis of platform discourse, randomized exposure studies, and digital intervention evaluations.<ref name="MVGGB" />
===Body neutrality talk on TikTok=== Studies have examined the portrayal of body neutrality on social media platforms like TikTok. An analysis of 178 TikTok videos using the hashtag #bodyneutrality revealed three main themes: the normalization of diverse bodies, the rejection and dismissal of appearance being the most important and fundamental thing, and positioning body neutrality in contrast to body positivity.<ref name="MVGGB">{{Cite journal |last=Mancin|first=Paolo |last2=Vall-Roqué|first2=Helena |last3=Grey|first3=Wesley |last4=Griffiths|first4=Scott |last5=Bonell|first5=Sarah |date=2024-12-04 |title=Let's talk about body neutrality: content analysis of #bodyneutrality on TikTok |url=https://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-024-01163-0|journal=Journal of Eating Disorders|language=en|volume=12 |issue=1 |doi=10.1186/s40337-024-01163-0 |doi-access=free |issn=2050-2974 |pmc=11616157 |pmid=39633454}}</ref> Their research showed that body neutrality content often presents the body as normal and as something that is useful rather than just positioning it as an aesthetic object to be judged.<ref name="MVGGB"/>
Similarly, a content analysis was performed on 394 TikTok videos tagged with body-positive and body-neutral hashtags. The authors identify recurring themes in body neutral-content such as size, inclusivity, adaptive self investment, body appreciation, and no judgment messaging that all describe and emphasize how a person's worth should not be dependent on how they look.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Aubrey|first=Jennifer Stevens |last2=Zeng|first2=Jiaqi |last3=Saha|first3=Kausumi |last4=Gahler|first4=Heather |last5=Dajches|first5=Leah |date=September 2024 |title=The body positive… or the body neutral? A content analysis of body positivity and body neutrality hashtagged videos on TikTok |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1740144524000597 |journal=Body Image |language=en |volume=50 |number=101737 |doi=10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101737|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
===Effects of exposure to body neutral content=== Researchers have not only described online discourse but also have undertaken experimental studies and research to assess the psychological impacts of exposure to body neutrality content. Seekis and Lawrence (2023) conducted a randomized controlled experiment with 189 undergraduate women.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Seekis|first=Veya |last2=Lawrence|first2=Rebecca K. |date=December 2023 |title=How exposure to body neutrality content on TikTok affects young women's body image and mood |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1740144523001389 |journal=Body Image |language=en |volume=47 |article-number=101629 |doi=10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.101629|hdl=10072/426220 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Subjects viewed TikTok videos that included either: body neutrality content, thin ideal content, or an art based control video. After controlling pre-test measures, the researchers found that women in the body neutral condition reported more satisfaction with their body and a higher appreciation for functionality compared to those in the thin ideal and control groups. Moreover, participants who viewed body neutral content also reported they felt better and didn't compare themselves to skinny people as frequently.<ref name=":0" /> These findings support a short term relationship between exposure to body neutrality content on TikTok and improvements in body image related characteristics in a young adult population.<ref name=":0" />
Similar patterns have been observed on Instagram, including a randomized study of how people felt about their bodies after seeing fit-inspiration, body-positive, and text-based body-neutrality posts.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Ladwig|first=Gritt |last2=Tanck|first2=Julia A. |last3=Quittkat|first3=Hannah L. |last4=Vocks|first4=Silja |date=2024-09-01 |title=Risks and benefits of social media trends: The influence of "fitspiration", "body positivity", and text-based "body neutrality" on body dissatisfaction and affect in women with and without eating disorders |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144524000718 |journal=Body Image |volume=50 |article-number=101749 |doi=10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101749 |issn=1740-1445|doi-access=free }}</ref> People were more dissatisfied with their bodies after seeing 'fitspiration' posts and less dissatisfied after seeing body-positive and body-neutral posts. However, there were caveats about the emotional effects of exposure depending on the type of material and the measurements being used.<ref name=":2" /> These findings suggest that body neutrality messaging functions in distinct ways to thin ideal content for immediate body image effects.<ref name=":2" />
===Micro-interventions on social media=== Researchers have examined whether engaging with body-positive or appearance-neutral content over time can work as a micro intervention. An evaluation of body-positive and appearance-neutral Facebook groups found that participants in both groups reported reduced body dissatisfaction from pre test (T1) to post test (T2) following the 14 day intervention period.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Fardouly|first=Jasmine|last2=Slater|first2=Amy|last3=Parnell|first3=Jade|last4=Diedrichs|first4=Phillippa C.|date=March 2023|title=Can following body positive or appearance neutral Facebook pages improve young women's body image and mood? Testing novel social media micro-interventions|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S174014452200211X|journal=Body Image|language=en|volume=44|pages=136–147|doi=10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.12.008|url-access=subscription}}</ref> However, the authors noted that there wasn't much evidence and the topic is in need of further research to understand changes happening during further follow-up assessments. The study said that exposure to this kind of content could be a low cost micro-intervention and also the effects were different across outcome measures.<ref name=":3" />
===Adolescence and the growth of digital intervention=== Body neutrality has also been a topic of digital mental health programs for youth. In one pilot evaluation, researchers reported that the intervention was acceptable to participants and showed initial success among adolescents who were concerned about body image and mood.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Smith|first=Arielle C.|last2=Ahuvia|first2=Isaac|last3=Ito|first3=Sakura|last4=Schleider|first4=Jessica L.|date=August 2023|title=Project Body Neutrality: Piloting a digital single‐session intervention for adolescent body image and depression|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eat.23976|journal=International Journal of Eating Disorders|language=en|volume=56|issue=8|pages=1554–1569|doi=10.1002/eat.23976|issn=0276-3478|pmc=10524309|pmid=37129116}}</ref>
===Framing by the public and media=== Credible media sources and peer reviewed research have described body neutrality as an alternative to body positivity for individuals who find it hard to maintain and keep close to their heart messages of self love. With research it has been evident that body neutrality shifts focus away from appearance towards what the body can do and how it functions and everyday experiences.<ref name=":4" /> Reporting in ''The Guardian'' noted that some advocates perceived body neutrality as a way of diminishing the importance of looks and physical appearance in daily life.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kessel|first=Anna|date=2018-07-23|title=The rise of the body neutrality movement: 'If you're fat, you don't have to hate yourself'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jul/23/the-rise-of-the-body-neutrality-movement-if-youre-fat-you-dont-have-to-hate-yourself|access-date=2026-02-20|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
==Adopters of body neutrality== Amongst body neutrality's better-known adherents is Erynn Chambers, a TikTok creator who has practiced body neutrality for multiple years. She states, "I don't want to hate my body, but I don't feel like a goddess either."<ref name="EC_G">{{cite news |last=Godwin |first=Cody Melissa |title='I don't want to hate my body but I don't feel like a goddess either' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54010269 |access-date=17 October 2025 |work=BBC News |date=4 September 2020}}</ref> Instead, people should appreciate what their bodies can do rather than the way they look. Bethany C. Meyers, another content creator who identifies as queer, has "dedicated their life to exploring themselves and what it means to love themselves and others".<ref name="Barrett">{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Barrett |title=Queer Fitness Instructor Bethany C. Meyers on Finding Yourself, Personally and Professionally |url=https://www.spectrumsouth.com/queer-fitness-instructor-bethany-c-meyers-on-finding-yourself-personally-and-professionally/ |website=Spectrum South - The Voice of the Queer South |access-date=17 October 2025 |date=8 May 2018 |archive-date=13 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913200802/https://www.spectrumsouth.com/queer-fitness-instructor-bethany-c-meyers-on-finding-yourself-personally-and-professionally/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They created the project 'be.come'<ref name="be.come_Insta">{{cite web |title=Instagram (thebecomeproject) |url=https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=%2Fthebecomeproject%2F&source=omni_redirect |website=www.instagram.com |access-date=17 October 2025}}</ref> to encourage confidence without intimidation, through their own transparency.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sreenivas |first=Shishira |title=What Is Body Neutrality? |url=https://www.webmd.com/beauty/what-is-body-neutrality |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=WebMD |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010182249/https://www.webmd.com/beauty/what-is-body-neutrality |url-status=live }}</ref>
Others include body neutral creators include Gabi Gregg<ref>{{cite web |title=Concept: Body Neutrality |url=https://genderjusticeproject.org/bodies/concept-body-neutrality |website=GENDER JUSTICE PROJECT |access-date=1 August 2025 |language=en-AU |date=14 September 2020}}</ref> and Stephanie Yeboah.<ref>{{cite web |title=Move over body positivity, body neutrality is the new realistic movement |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/47329/1/body-neutrality-positivity-movement-steph-yeboah-jameela-jamil |website=Dazed |access-date=1 August 2025 |language=en |date=8 January 2020 |archive-date=2 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602094146/https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/47329/1/body-neutrality-positivity-movement-steph-yeboah-jameela-jamil |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Bibliography== *{{cite book |last1=Wolf |first1=Naomi |author-link=Naomi Wolf |title=The Beauty Myth |date=1990 |publisher=Chatto & Windus |isbn=978-0-385-42397-7}} *{{cite book |last1=Rees |first1=Anuschka |title=Beyond Beautiful: A Practical Guide to Being Happy, Confident, and You in a Looks-Obsessed World |date=2019 |publisher=Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale |isbn=9780399582097}} *{{cite book |last1=Kneeland |first1=Jessi |title=Body Neutral: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Body Image Issues |date=2023 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0593491768}}
==See also== * Ableism * Attributional ambiguity * Body dysmorphic disorder * Egalitarianism * Human physical appearance * Insecurity (emotion) * Physical attractiveness stereotype * Social stigma * Stigma (sociological theory) * Thinspiration * Ugliness * Unattractiveness
==Notes== {{reflist|group=n}}
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Prejudice and discrimination Category:Aesthetics Category:Prejudice and discrimination by type Category:Ugliness Category:Human sexuality Category:Political terminology Category:Postmodern theory Category:Sexual attraction