What Is Body Image—and Why Explore It with a Dietitian?

Struggling with how you feel about your body? You’re not alone. Body image is more than just liking or disliking what you see in the mirror—it’s shaped by thoughts, emotions, experiences, and behaviors. Exploring body image in a supportive space, like with a registered dietitian, can be a powerful step toward healing your relationship with food, movement, and yourself.

A helpful way to understand body image is by breaking it down into four key parts: perceptual, cognitive, affective, and behavioral.

1. Perceptual Body Image

This is how you see your body—its size, shape, and appearance.
Perception isn’t always based in reality; it can be heavily influenced by past experiences, trauma, and societal pressure.

2. Cognitive Body Image:

These are the thoughts and beliefs you hold about your body. They’re shaped by family, culture, social media, and internalized messages. Common harmful thoughts include:

“I have to be thin to be accepted.”

“If I gain weight, I’m out of control.”

“My body is broken.”

These narratives don’t come out of nowhere—they reflect a culture that reinforces weight stigma. But at what cost? Working with a dietitian can help you explore those beliefs and start questioning whether they truly serve you.

3. Affective Body Image

This is how you feel about your body—satisfaction, shame, pride, frustration, or disconnection. These feelings can shift depending on your mood or environment. Body image work often focuses on moving from negative or harsh feelings to more neutral, and eventually, more compassionate ones.

4. Behavioral Body Image

These are the actions you take based on how you see, think, and feel about your body.
Examples might include:

Avoiding mirrors or photos

Wearing oversized clothing to hide your body

Frequently checking your appearance

Dieting or overexercising

While these behaviors can feel protective, over time they may reinforce distress or disconnection.

Why This Framework Matters

Understanding these four aspects gives structure to body image exploration. It helps identify the patterns and beliefs that may be getting in the way of a more peaceful relationship with food, movement, and your body.

Nutrition therapy can be a safe space to explore this. Emma is a registered dietitian who specializes in body image work. If this resonates with you, you're invited to schedule a discovery call to learn more.