Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality. What’s the difference?

If you've ever felt personally victimized by your thoughts, social media, toxic positivity, or this f*cked up society we are living in, then keep reading.

In a society where Photoshop, face tune, unrealistic body standards are displayed on all social media platforms, it's no surprise that body image continues to be an issue for many. A recent study found that 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape. We throw around the terms "body positivity" and "body neutrality, "but do we really understand what these phrases mean?

The body positivity trend has recently been criticized by many due to its reputation for pushing toxic positivity. Many people feel pressured to feel good about their bodies 24/7.

This has caused many to shift their focus from body positivity to body neutrality. But what really is the difference between these two approaches? Is one better than the other? How can we practice them? And how can we finally embrace our bodies for all the badass things they can do?

I interviewed Denvry Tyler-Palmer, Nutritionist, future registered Dietician, and diet culture rebel to dig deeper into the history of these two approaches and body image. How are they similar? How are they different? How can we do better as a society to recognize toxic positivity? How can you stop being at war with your body?

What is Body Positivity?

Body positivity originates from the Fat Acceptance Movement in the 1960’s. It is a term used to help those with plus-sized bodies and marginalized groups feel worthy regardless of their external appearance. Plus sized individuals are often discriminated against solely because of their size and this movement has helped individuals all over the world gain confidence in who they are despite that.

What is Body Neutrality?

I define body neutrality as an objective lens we can view ourselves from. The body is a shell that holds our quirky personalities, genuine hearts, and brilliant minds that give us power to impact others… your abs and biceps may be impressive, but they do not create meaningful effects in life. Body neutrality allows us to remove the emotional highs and lows we experience when giving our appearance power to determine our worth. Instead, body neutrality allows us to view and appreciate our internal qualities, so we place less emphasis on our external ones.

How can body positivity be practiced in a healthier way?

I think body neutrality is the more universal, realistic version of body positivity. The same ideas are applied and can help achieve a more humanistic outlook towards all individuals despite their looks. When we can view our own body in a neutral light, we can then begin to view those around us in the same way. We begin to appreciate the characteristics of others, rather than their appearance.

The body positivity movement (in my opinion) is unfairly criticized because of society’s

fat-phobic nature. The value of the movement is deeper than what these individuals look like –

they simply want to be treated as humans without animosity against their size-dENVYR

What was your past relationship like with your body?

Growing up, I valued vanity very highly. I was insecure and thought controlling my appearance was the only way to be valued or liked by others. Playing a sport (volleyball) that requires minimal clothing throughout college was also the source of pressure I felt to control my looks to meet a very thin, lean, body ideal I envisioned in my head. Every decision I made regarding food, exercise, and social media was impacted by my obsession to look a certain way. It caused a lot of anxiety and cluttered my thoughts to the point where it affected my other responsibilities. The day I retired from volleyball was the day I felt relief from my body obsession. I didn’t care as much about how I looked anymore because I never had to perform in tiny spandex again.

What is your relationship like with your body today?

I started to care less about how my body looked by focusing on my strength, health, and personal development. I came to terms with the fact that my body is guaranteed to change throughout life and the more attached I am to its image, the more dissatisfaction and suffering it will cause me for the rest of my life. I also recognized that the people that love me most in life, don’t love me for how my body looks. Further, I realized that any relationships built on a foundation of vanity does not last due to its underwhelming fulfillment. Body neutrality was the result of reevaluating my values and thinking about what was most important to me in life.

What advice would you give some struggling with body image?

Start with reflection. Write out all the things you like about yourself that aren’t body-related. Write out all the things you would like to improve within yourself that aren’t body-related. This can be anything such as your understanding of a subject, your skill in a craft, your writing, your speaking, your connection with others, your spiritual beliefs, or maybe you want to pick up a new hobby. Working on these other aspects of ourselves gives us confidence without ever having to change our appearance. Then start to assess your values. What do you admire most about the people in your life? This will help you determine what is most important to you and can help you apply those values to how you treat and think about yourself. If you admire your mom for her creativity, selflessness, and leadership, then how might you incorporate those qualities within yourself? Negative body image typically has very little to do with how you look on the outside and very much to do with how you feel about yourself on the inside. Reflection can help you reveal deeper insecurities that you can develop and overcome building self-confidence.