In 2015, the term body neutral was coined. Unlike body positivity, which is the idea of “loving yourself just the way you are,” body neutrality is a neutrally tolerant approach that says, “It’s okay to not like your body shape sometimes.”

It was popularized in 2016 by counselor Anne Poirier’s message that “it’s not always practical to always love your body,” and today it is supported by singer Taylor Swift and actor Jamil Jamil.

The ultimate goal of body neutrality is to lead to positive images of self-care, appreciation, and respect. This has a variety of benefits: people who take care of their bodies are more likely to develop healthy eating habits and engage in health-promoting behaviors, such as getting preventive care for cancer. It is also associated with psychological wellbeing, such as fewer symptoms of depression, higher self-esteem, self-acceptance, and higher life satisfaction.

In the opinion that follows, we will discuss the body positivity behind body neutrality and how to actually accept it.

How can we become “body neutral” in our daily lives?

A quick search reveals a variety of tips, such as spending less time in front of the mirror, wearing clothes that are comfortable for you, and shutting out unnecessary conversations about body shape criticism.

However, while small techniques are important, I feel that it is difficult to personalize the concept of body neutrality with just these tips.

A turning point for me was a free yoga lesson I took with a friend. I had only lightly thought that it might help my stiff shoulders, but the refreshing effect was beyond my imagination.

The comforting sensation of having the distortions of the mind and body adjusted through breathing and postures was completely different from the usual muscle training, and it focused my attention on the “functions of the body,” not its appearance.

Exercise tends to be associated with external goals, such as losing weight or getting abs. However, by engaging in yoga, stretching, and other exercises that improve body function (flexibility and range of motion), it may be possible to achieve a body-neutral posture. In fact, some studies suggest that people who have experienced yoga are more positive about their body image.

Why not take a look at our past articles filled with tips for developing an exercise routine and incorporate exercise to “face your body”?

Pinterest, a source of inspiration, revised its advertising policy in July 2021, banning text and images that advocate weight loss. Subsequent analysis of related keywords found that searches containing the keyword “diet” decreased by 20% globally in May 2022 compared to July 2021. Instead, searches for “easy, healthy eating” increased 65-fold, and searches for “motivation to eat healthy” increased 13-fold.

The study, “Male Body Image Portrayals on Instagram,” found that displaying more muscles on social media can get more likes and views. The rise of fitness accounts on social media has set the standard for what is considered “normal” and therefore many men are worried about their body shape as it is.

Online classes on fitness apps such as “Joyn,” which boasts movement classes for every body, and the “be.come project,” created by instructor Bethany C. Myers, first ask students to input their physical condition. Fitness, which emphasizes the importance of listening to the body, supports students in letting go of assumptions and presumptions, such as that the body must look a certain way.