Overcoming body dissatisfaction with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Have you found yourself struggling with negative thoughts about your body, wishing for changes in weight, muscle distribution, or appearance? If so, you’re not alone.

Body dissatisfaction, defined as experiencing negative feelings or thoughts about one’s body,^ is incredibly common, affecting about 90% of individuals.^{ }And for those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, the challenge of body dissatisfaction can be even more complicated.

Why Body Dissatisfaction Affects People with IBD

Research shows that people with IBD experience high rates of body dissatisfaction, often driven by the physical and emotional challenges that accompany the condition.^ Several factors increase the risk of body dissatisfaction for people with IBD, including:^{   }

• Being female
• Experiencing active inflammation
• Extended steroid use
• Experiencing more severe symptoms
• Having skin or joint issues related to IBD
• Having ileocolonic Crohn's disease
• Having a history of an IBD-related surgery
• Dealing with chronic fatigue 

These challenges can make individuals feel disconnected from their bodies or even feel like their bodies are working against them, adding a unique layer to body dissatisfaction.

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Understanding Body Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction, and Neutrality

When we talk about improving body satisfaction, the goal is not to achieve a particular look but to feel content with our bodies in the present. This doesn’t mean ignoring the impact of IBD but rather rejecting unrealistic body standards that make true body satisfaction unattainable. Body neutrality, on the other hand, means accepting your body as it is—without feeling pressure to feel good or bad about its appearance.

How Body Satisfaction Impacts Mental Health and Behavior

Research on healthy individuals has found that those with the highest body appreciation are significantly less likely to:^

• Engage in restrictive eating behaviors
• have a focus on an “ideal” body type
• engage in body surveillance/body checking
• experience depression and anxiety 

 Research on healthy individuals has also found that people who have the highest body appreciation are significantly more likely to have higher:^

• self-esteem
• self-compassion
• sexual satisfaction

For people with IBD, body dissatisfaction is often associated with lower self-esteem, less sexual satisfaction, and increased rates of anxiety and depression.^ This may be related to their restrictive eating to control symptoms, as it can negatively impact their relationship with food and their bodies over time.

Breaking Free from Unrealistic Body Ideals

Society often tells us that achieving a specific body ideal—whether through weight loss, muscle gain, or other appearance-based goals—will lead to happiness and body appreciation. But this just isn’t true. When body ideals are based on media portrayals or cultural pressures, even reaching these goals rarely brings the satisfaction people expect. In reality, if your sense of self-worth hinges on constantly changing your appearance, it can become an endless cycle of dissatisfaction.

Practical Tips for Improving Body Satisfaction

Here are ten actionable steps to help you nurture a more positive, compassionate relationship with your body:

• Reframe your thoughts: try focussing on using kind self talk instead of being critical of yourself.
• Redefine what health means to you: instead of focusing on weight-based or muscle distribution-based goals, focus on healthy mental, emotional, and physical habits that will help you feel better.
• Avoid comparisons: instead of comparing yourself to others, remind yourself that we all have different strengths.
• Be mindful of media: social media and television shows can both impact how you feel about your body. 
• Change your outfit: choose clothes to wear that are comfortable and make you feel good about yourself 
• Celebrate your wins: focus on your wins, rather than focussing on what you wished you did differently.  
• Be mindful with your movement: move your body in enjoyable ways that make you feel good.
• Refrain from body checking: avoid weight tracking on scales, checking your body in the mirror, or checking your body based on whether certain clothes fit you. Instead, remind yourself you’re SO much more than what your body looks like on the outside.
• Redefine what beauty means to you: think about what you’ll believe to be beautiful when you’re 80+ years old. Consider qualities that go beyond physical appearances, such as one’s kindness, support, empathy, etc. 
• Get support: work with a therapist and dietitian (like us!) with experience helping individuals with body image.

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Moving Toward Body Satisfaction

Body dissatisfaction can be an especially challenging experience for individuals with IBD, as symptoms, treatments, and societal pressures can all contribute to negative perceptions of one’s body. However, finding a path toward body satisfaction is not only possible but essential for improving overall well-being, self-esteem, and mental health.

Rather than striving for unrealistic body ideals, focus on building a positive relationship with your body through small, intentional steps like those shared in this post. With self-compassion, mindfulness, and professional support when needed, you can work toward embracing your body for its strength, resilience, and all it enables you to experience.

Remember, body satisfaction isn’t about how you look—it’s about appreciating yourself as you are today.