Using Clothing Choices and Body Image to Enhance Self-Esteem

Body image distortion and unrealistic weight expectations can contribute to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Cycling up and down in weight in pursuit of an ideal body image can also be detrimental to health (Welsch, Nidiffer, Zager & Lyerla, 1992).

The current emphasis in nutrition education is helping people achieve a "healthy" body weight for their body type (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1990). Helping individuals achieve a positive body image may be a more important long term strategy for achieving and maintaining improved health than helping them lose weight (Welsch et. al., 1992). Many people already at a healthy weight however, are trying to diet to a weight or size for which they are not genetically programmed. For the overweight individual, negative body-image perceptions can impair a person's success in losing weight or maintaining weight loss (Staff, 1993).

As an extension of the body, clothing can affect body image perception and functions to strengthen or weaken the body-image boundary. Clothing acts as a "second skin" in establishing the physical boundaries of the self (Horn, 1968).

A two hour workshop, "Body Image--What You Weigh or What You Wear," was created by an interdisciplinary team of an Extension educator in nutrition and an Extension clothing specialist. This new approach to county Extension programming provided an opportunity to look at the holistic individual when it comes to body image related to weight and clothing choices. Program objectives were: (a) recognize criteria for a healthy weight, (b) identify the effect of clothing choices on body image perception, and (c) improve self-esteem through clothing choices that enhance body image.

The program content integrated nutrition research on healthy weight with body image aspects of clothing and self-esteem. The clothing selection portion explored the effects of line, design, color, and fabric on impression of body size through a check list, illustrations, and experiential activities. Experimental activities included writing a brief description of your body for personal use, experimenting with actual garments and fabric to determine effect on body image, and doing a clothes sort as a home assignment.

Program participants included employees from the State Health Department, a University, banks, investment corporations, and other individuals from the general public. Participants completed an evaluation at the end of the workshop. Of 188 respondents, 96% indicated a better understanding of a "healthy" weight. Three months later, a follow-up questionnaire was sent to 125 participants. The total returned was 63%. Approximately 66% of the respondents reported enhanced self-esteem as a result of the program; 99% were using the information to make better clothing decisions.

This program has been successful for both men and women adult and youth audiences. By utilizing the expertise of an Extension clothing specialist, other Extension nutrition educators can help people enhance their self-esteem and enjoy a healthy body weight. As one class member said on the evaluation, "I had a hard time reaching my weight goal because I had no 'vision' of my new body. Your class helped me a lot." Another person said, "I watch more closely the type of clothing I buy even though the clothing items are on sale."

Horn, M. J. (1968). The second skin. New York: Houghton Mifflin.

Staff. (1993). Body image and weight control. Dietetic Currents, 20(1), pp. 1-4.

United States Department of Agriculture. (1990). Nutrition and your health: Dietary guidelines for Americans (DHHS Publication No. HG-232). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Welsch, T., Nidiffer, M., Zager, K., & Lyerla, R. (1992). Attributes and perceived body image of students seeking nutrition counseling at a university wellness program. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 92(5), 609-611.