Hidden Harm of Toxic Body Positivity & How Body Neutrality Heals

July 6, 2023

A post by Sydney Barrera, RD, LDN and Rachel Goodwin, MA, LPC, LCPC

5 Key Takeaways: Understanding Toxic Body Positivity

Toxic body positivity can reinforce shame.
Constantly trying to “love your body” can backfire, making people feel like they’re failing when they don’t feel positive all the time.
The original movement was about equality, not appearance.
Early body positivity and fat-acceptance activists fought for dignity, representation, and fair treatment of all bodies – not for constant self-praise.
Body neutrality offers a healthier path.
Focusing on what your body can do – rather than how it looks – can help reduce anxiety, obsession, and self-criticism.
Mindful movement and reflection foster self-connection.
Practices like gentle movement, meditation, and therapy can rebuild respect and awareness of your body’s needs.
Healing body image takes compassion, not perfection.
True body acceptance is about curiosity, care, and connection—not forcing positivity or meeting societal ideals.

If you’ve ever felt pressured to “love your body” but found that positivity feels forced or impossible, you’re not alone. Let’s take a closer look at where the body positivity movement began, how it’s evolved, and why finding balance through body neutrality can be more healing.

As clinicians supporting people who struggle with eating disorders and body image, we often hear clients assume our goal is to help them reach a place of body positivity. While that’s a common belief, it isn’t always the most realistic – or the most healing – approach.

The Origins of Body Positivity

The body positivity movement began in the 1960s alongside the fat-acceptance movement, when activists fought for equality, representation, and dignity for people in larger bodies. These early advocates focused on combating discrimination and creating a world where all bodies could be treated with respect.

Over time, however, the movement’s original message was overshadowed. Many of today’s social media conversations about “loving your body” have strayed from its roots – and often leave out the very communities that helped shape the movement.

Early organizations, such as the National Association to Aid Fat Americans, were founded by white individuals and largely excluded Black and brown voices, despite the fact that fatphobia and racist beauty standards are deeply intertwined.

When Body Positivity Becomes Toxic

In the 2010s, body positivity resurfaced as a popular trend online. The message was simple: all bodies – regardless of size, shape, ability, or gender – deserve acceptance. While that message sounds empowering, it has also created new pressures.

For some people, constantly striving to “feel positive” about their appearance can lead to shame when those feelings don’t come naturally. This is where toxic body positivity begins. The idea that we must love our bodies at all times can actually reinforce the belief that our worth depends on how we look. Instead of freeing us from body obsession, it can deepen it – especially for those in eating disorder recovery.

At SunCloud Health, we often remind our clients that the goal isn’t to love every part of your body right away. The goal is to reconnect with yourself beyond your appearance.

Moving Toward Body Neutrality

A healthier, more sustainable mindset is body neutrality – the idea that you can respect and care for your body without having to feel constant love or positivity toward it.

When clients learn to focus on what their body does rather than how it looks, they begin to form a more balanced, compassionate relationship with themselves. Through mindful movement, meditation, and therapeutic reflection, individuals can explore how societal expectations have shaped their self-image and begin to rewrite those beliefs.

Body neutrality practices allow people to:

Acknowledge their body’s needs without judgment
Appreciate its function and capability
Reclaim their self-worth beyond physical appearance

This approach encourages genuine self-connection, not performative positivity. It honors the complexity of human experience – acknowledging that it’s okay to have neutral or even negative feelings about your body while still caring for it.

Bringing the Focus Back to Equality and Dignity

Ultimately, our work as clinicians is about healing the relationship between mind, body, and identity. By centering body neutrality and inclusivity, we can move closer to the original mission of the body positivity movement – fighting for equality, representation, and dignity for all bodies.

Healing isn’t about achieving perfection or constant positivity. It’s about finding balance, authenticity, and connection to who you truly are.

How SunCloud Health Helps People Heal from Toxic Body Positivity and Body Image Struggles

At SunCloud Health, we understand that navigating body image, social media pressures, and toxic body positivity can feel overwhelming—especially for those also managing eating disorders, anxiety, depression, or trauma. Our multidisciplinary team of clinicians takes a compassionate, evidence-based approach to help individuals rebuild a healthy, sustainable relationship with their bodies and themselves.

Through our residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs, we integrate medical, psychiatric, nutritional, and therapeutic support tailored to each person’s unique needs. Treatment may include:

DBT-informed therapy and skills groups focused on emotional regulation and self-acceptance
HAES-informed nutrition counseling to promote health at every size
Mindful and meaningful movement practices that support reconnection with the body
Group and individual therapy exploring body neutrality, self-worth, and identity
Family involvement to strengthen understanding and reduce shame around body image

Whether you’re struggling with disordered eating, negative body image, or simply feeling trapped by unrealistic expectations, our goal is to help you rediscover balance and authenticity—without pressure to be “body positive” all the time. At SunCloud Health, healing is about learning to live in your body with compassion, curiosity, and dignity.

We invite you to reach out today to learn more about our specialized programs for eating disorders and body image treatment at our Chicago, Naperville, Northbrook Illinois locations, or through our virtual programs available across Illinois and Maryland.

Call (866) 729-1012 or contact us online to begin a conversation about how we can support your journey toward true body connection and recovery.

About the Authors
Sydney Barrera, LCPC, and Rachel Goodwin, LCSW, are clinicians at SunCloud Health who specialize in eating disorder treatment, body image concerns, and trauma-informed care. Together, they support individuals in developing healthier, more compassionate relationships with their bodies through evidence-based and HAES-informed approaches.