Are there things that can hurt my body image?

Exposure to media: Our media and the ads it carries promote a completely false ideal of what we should look like. The models are highly selected and extensively altered (see http://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=iyhcn0jf46u). To try to expect to live up to those standards is like expecting to win the olympics or play professional basketball. Find out what is most healthy for your mind and body, accept your own perfection.

It's up to you: Body image is how you feel and what you think when you look at yourself, plus how you imagine other people see you. How you feel in your body -- strong and capable, or weak and insecure -- affects this also. Though it may vary from time to time, hopefully body image remains stably positive. Others' criticisms, and comparing yourself to others can negatively affect body image if you let them.