Body positivity started as a movement to help people feel comfortable in their own skin, but somewhere along the way, things got complicated.
While the original message was about self-acceptance, which is always a good thing, it’s now turned into something that can sometimes be unrealistic, dismissive, or even harmful. Instead of genuinely helping people, certain aspects of body positivity can end up doing the exact opposite. Here’s where it’s all started to go wrong.
1. It sometimes ignores real health concerns.
One of the biggest criticisms of the movement is that it can downplay the importance of health. While feeling good about yourself is important, pretending that health doesn’t matter can be dangerous. Dismissing discussions about weight-related health issues as “fatphobic” can stop people from taking care of themselves properly.
Encouraging self-love shouldn’t come at the cost of ignoring genuine medical advice. Health isn’t about shaming people; it’s about making sure they have all the information they need to make informed choices. Ignoring that reality doesn’t help anyone in the long run.
2. It puts too much focus on appearance.
The whole point was to move away from obsessing over looks, but now it feels like it’s just another way of fixating on bodies. Even though the message is meant to be about self-acceptance, there’s still a huge emphasis on how people look rather than who they are.
Instead of teaching people that their worth isn’t tied to their appearance, it just shifts the focus onto loving the way you look no matter what. While that sounds positive, it still reinforces the idea that appearance is the most important thing, when it really shouldn’t be.
3. It pressures people to feel good about their bodies all the time.
The reality is, no one feels amazing about themselves 24/7. Some days you’re going to feel great, and other days you might not, and that’s completely normal. But the body positivity movement often makes it seem like you’re failing if you don’t love your body every second of the day.
That creates a new kind of pressure. Instead of allowing people to have natural ups and downs with their self-image, they feel guilty if they ever struggle. True self-acceptance means understanding that you won’t always feel great about yourself, and that’s okay.
4. It dismisses people who actually want to change.
If someone wants to lose weight, get fitter, or make a change for their own health, they can be made to feel like they’re betraying the movement. There’s a lot of judgement around people who want to improve their bodies, as if doing so means they don’t love themselves.
But self-love and self-improvement aren’t opposites. You can love yourself while also wanting to be healthier, stronger, or more energetic. Telling people they should never want to change takes away their personal choice, which is the opposite of empowerment.
5. It can sometimes discourage personal responsibility.
Feeling confident in your own body is important, but that doesn’t mean ignoring lifestyle factors that impact your health. In some cases, the body positivity movement can make it seem like nothing needs to change, even when change might be necessary for a healthier life.
Encouraging people to feel good about themselves shouldn’t mean ignoring the impact of diet, exercise, and other habits. Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean hating yourself — it means making choices that support your well-being, both physically and mentally.
6. It’s been heavily commercialised.
What started as a movement about acceptance has now been turned into a marketing strategy. Big brands have jumped on the body positivity trend, using it to sell products, while still promoting unrealistic beauty standards in the background.
Companies will talk about “self-love” while editing their models, selling weight loss products, or pushing trends that contradict their supposed message. Instead of actually promoting body acceptance, it’s often just another way to make money.
7. It sometimes shames people who are naturally slim.
In trying to uplift one group, the movement sometimes ends up tearing down another. Thin people are often told they have “privilege” and that their struggles with body image don’t matter. This creates a new kind of exclusion that goes against the whole idea of self-acceptance.
Everyone has insecurities, no matter their size. Making someone feel bad for being naturally slim or fit doesn’t create equality — it just flips the focus of judgement. True body acceptance should include everyone, not just certain groups.
8. It can stop people from setting healthy goals.
For some, body positivity has made it feel like setting fitness or weight loss goals is “wrong.” Instead of being encouraged to make healthy changes, people are told that wanting to improve means they don’t accept themselves as they are.
But self-improvement isn’t the enemy of self-love. People should feel free to make positive changes in their lives without feeling guilty. Loving your body can include taking care of it in ways that make you feel stronger, healthier, and happier.
9. It ignores the deeper issues behind body image struggles.
Source: Unsplash Feeling good about your body isn’t just about repeating affirmations in the mirror; it’s about dealing with the deeper insecurities and emotional struggles that come with self-image. But the body positivity movement often stops at the surface level, acting as if simply “loving yourself” is enough.
In reality, body image issues are complex and deeply rooted. They can be influenced by past experiences, trauma, mental health struggles, and societal pressures. Telling people to just “love themselves” without addressing those deeper issues can feel dismissive.
10. It’s often more about social media validation than real self-acceptance.
Instead of actually feeling confident, many people are now using body positivity as a way to seek external validation. Posting about self-love on social media has become a trend, but it doesn’t always mean someone genuinely feels that way.
True confidence comes from within, not from how many likes or comments you get. While sharing your journey can be empowering, relying on social media for self-worth can be just as damaging as traditional beauty standards.
11. It can make people feel stuck.
If someone is struggling with their weight, health, or self-image, they should feel empowered to make changes that improve their life. But some messages within body positivity make it seem like you’re “wrong” for wanting to do that.
Feeling good about yourself should never mean staying stuck in a place that makes you unhappy. If improving your fitness, health, or lifestyle will make you feel better, you should be able to do that without feeling like you’re betraying a movement.
12. It often ignores the mental health side of body struggles.
Body image isn’t just about how you look—it’s deeply connected to mental health. Anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and low self-esteem all play a role in how people feel about their bodies, yet body positivity doesn’t always acknowledge this.
Instead of just telling people to “love themselves,” there needs to be more discussion about addressing the mental health struggles that come with body image issues. Without that, the movement can feel more like a surface-level slogan than real support.
13. It’s turning into body obsession instead of body neutrality.
Ironically, the body positivity movement still puts bodies at the centre of everything. Instead of teaching people to see their bodies as just one part of who they are, it continues to make appearance the main focus.
True freedom comes from body neutrality — where you don’t have to love or hate your body, you just exist in it without obsessing over it. That’s the real goal, but body positivity often misses the mark by keeping the focus on looks rather than overall well-being.
