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What is body neutrality and how is it different to existing body image concepts? An analysis of experts and general community responses

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2025-08-04 05:03

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. 2024 Dec:51:101780.

doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101780. Epub 2024 Aug 14.

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PMID: 39146631 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101780

Free article

What is body neutrality and how is it different to existing body image concepts? An analysis of experts and general community responses

Kate E Mulgrew et al. Body Image. 2024 Dec.

Free article

Abstract

There has been considerable recent interest in and reference to body neutrality, despite limited scholarship on differences from existing constructs. Our study examined perceptions of body neutrality in 229 individuals (researchers, clinicians, eating disorder lived experience, general community). Questions explored definitions of body neutrality, its similarity and differences to other concepts, perceived benefits and risks of adopting a body neutrality approach, and ratings on the usefulness of proposed components. Participants defined body neutrality as adopting an accepting, non-judgemental approach to one's body, de-emphasising the importance of appearance, and viewing the body as a vessel that carries a person through life. Perceived benefits included it being more accessible than existing approaches and a useful coping strategy, while risks were that neutrality can be difficult to adopt in an appearance focused society and that it may prompt an apathetic response to self-care. Body neutrality was rated as conceptually similar to functionality appreciation, body acceptance, and body compassion, and definitions consistent with these terms were rated most favourably. Our findings show how body neutrality is perceived and used by experts and the general community. However, we question whether this conceptualisation is distinct from existing positive body image concepts.

Keywords: Body functionality; Body neutrality; Body positivity; Functionality appreciation; Positive body image.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.