Dear Brittany,

Our own view of our body is often referred to as our “body image.” It’s understandable that others have a different view of your body than you do. Your body image is your own internal view of how you look and not necessarily your actual appearance or how you seem to others.

The truth is many of us have a poor body image. It is influenced by culture and media, which often displays both males and females in ways that do not reflect the body shapes of the vast majority of people and leaves most of us feeling inadequate in terms of our physical appearance. If we have poor self-esteem or suffer from depression or anxiety, we’re even more vulnerable to having a poor body image. Being overly concerned with body image can also lead to potentially dangerous eating disorders.

In order to determine if you’re at the right weight for your age and height, consider speaking with your doctor. If you find yourself always thinking about your weight and how you look, consider talking about it with a trusted, knowledgeable adult or health professional.

Remember that a healthy body has more to do with good nutrition and active lifestyle than simply what you weigh. By trying to focus less on how you look and more on your other positive traits, you may begin to feel better about your whole self.