Interpersonal Communication- A Mindful Approach to Relationships, 2020a

care for, and take pleasure in your body
throughout your lifespan. Struggles will
inevitably occur, especially during times of
transition or imbalance.” 24 Sobczak goes
on to note that practicing body positivity
“allows you to find what you need to live
with as much self-love and balanced selfcare
as possible. Experiences of conflict
and suffering become opportunities to learn
what is required to further your growth
so you can find greater contentment and
peace.” 25 The Body Positive has created a
basic model for body positivity that consists
of five basic competencies: reclaim health,
practice intuitive self-care, cultivate self-love,
declare your authentic beauty, and build
community (Figure 5.7).
Reclaim Health
The first competency of the Be Body
Positive Model is reclaiming one’s health.
For too long, the health care industry
has consistently used someone’s body
mass index as an indication of someone’s
physical health. However, there is ample
research that “measurements of physical
activity and metabolic fitness, such as blood
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Reclaim Health
Practice Intuitive
Self-Care
Cultivate Self-Love
Declare Your Own
Authentic Beauty
Build Community
Figure 5.7 Five Competencies of the Be Body Positive
Model
pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar levels, are far better indicators of physical health than body size.”
26
As such, reclaiming one’s health is realizing that the weight loss and diet industry is a profit-making
machine that isn’t very effective. The weight loss and diet industry is estimated to be worth $245.51
billion by 2022. 27 People spend a ton of money here even though the long-term effects of dieting are
abysmal, with most people gaining back the weight they lost and adding some. 28,29
Now, this is not to say that people who are unhealthy should relish their ill-health. Instead, body
positivity is about understanding that health isn’t a number. One number that is often used to declare
someone’s “health” is their body mass index. You can calculate your own BMI using this calculator from
the National Institute of Health. Here are the general categories associated with explaining someone’s
BMI:
• Underweight =