A report published by the Butterfly Foundation in February 2025 investigated the economic and social impact of body dissatisfaction and weight-based discrimination. The report highlighted that an estimated 4.1 million Australians aged 15 and over have experienced body dissatisfaction. This overwhelming statistic demonstrates that body image is something many Australians struggle with.
Each time I hear someone comment negatively about their own or somebody else’s weight, or feel pressured to perfect their ‘bikini body’ for their next trip to Greece, I feel a pang of sadness and anger. The societal influence on body image can be damaging to people’s mental health.
I remember being in early primary school and hearing friends’ parents comment on the number of biscuits they were eating, and praise (or shame) a tanned or untanned body following a holiday.
Constant reminders of the unattainable ‘ideal’ body image currently saturate the world we live in through social media. There is always something to compare yourself to. But every single person has a different body which is unique and something to be proud of.
Clinical psychologist Dr Stephanie Papadopoulos specialises in weight stigma. She shared her perspective with The Greek Herald about how body image plays a role within Greek cultural standards.
How do you see Greek culture impacting the way body image is discussed between family and friends?
Greek culture significantly shapes the way body image is discussed between family and friends, often in ways that are deeply rooted in both ancient ideals and modern traditions. From a historical perspective, Ancient Greek values placed high importance on physical beauty, symmetry, and athleticism—ideals that continue to influence modern standards of attractiveness. These cultural legacies shape not only societal views of what is considered “desirable” or “worthy” but also filter into personal conversations about appearance.
Within Greek families, where open and frequent communication is the norm, these ideals often show up in unfiltered comments about weight, body shape, or eating habits. For example, it’s common to hear remarks like, “You’ve lost weight, you look great,” or “You should eat more, you’re too thin.” While often said with love or concern, these comments reflect how body image is closely linked to cultural expectations and can feel contradictory—especially in the Greek culture where food is central to hospitality and emotional connection.
This creates a unique tension: food is a form of love, yet weight gain may be quietly or openly criticised. A familiar example is the experience of being at Yiayia and Pappou’s house, where you can’t say no to food. And if you say, “no thanks”, suddenly you have eaten three meals and taken home leftovers in old gelato or biscuit tubs.
Generational differences also play a role. Older generations are more likely to comment on others’ appearances, while younger Greeks—shaped by global media and mental health awareness—tend to engage in more personal and open discussions about body image and are more familiar with conversations around body positivity and neutrality, eating disorders, self-esteem and self-worth issues, appearance anxiety, and body dysmorphia. However, these conversations may still feel difficult to have within the family due to cultural stigma or fear of being misunderstood.
Do you see a link between the ‘ideal’ body image promoted on social media and people’s mental health?
In today’s digital age, the idealised body image is… embedded in the everyday scrolling experience of social media. With nearly five billion users worldwide and an average of 151 minutes spent daily on social platforms, social media has become one of the most powerful influences on how people perceive beauty, success, and self-worth.
The documented amount of screen time is especially alarming given social media’s powerful influence on the content people consume—particularly when it revolves around body image ideals, which refer to the cultural standards that dictate how we should aspire to look and how we should think and feel about our bodies. Many social feeds are saturated with images that promote narrow beauty ideals: toned, slim, muscular bodies, youthful features, flawless and blemish-free skin, and other often unattainable traits. These images, often filtered or edited, create a skewed representation of what is considered attractive or “normal.”
While these standards aren’t new (as far back as Ancient Greece, sculptures like Polykleitos’ Canon outlined mathematically ideal body proportions), social media has significantly amplified their reach and impact. Unlike classical ideals, which were confined to art and philosophy, today’s standards are part of an endless stream of content. When these idealised images dominate social media feeds, they can have a measurable impact on mental health. Studies have linked this exposure to lower body satisfaction, decreased self-esteem, increased anxiety about appearance, higher levels of depression, disordered eating and body dysmorphia, [and] frequent appearance-based social comparisons.
These effects are intensified by the way social platforms operate. On apps like Instagram and TikTok, success and desirability are often tied to appearance through likes, followers, and engagement. Content that aligns with idealised beauty standards tends to receive more attention, which encourages users to post similar content. Many feel pressure to conform, turning to filters, editing tools, or even unhealthy behaviours in an effort to “fit in.”
This creates a feedback loop: the more this kind of content is rewarded, the more it is produced and consumed through engagement algorithms, reinforcing the same narrow standards across platforms. Over time, this can shape not only how people see themselves, but also how they believe they should look in order to be accepted or valued.
Do you see a difference in body image concerns for men and women?
While eating-related disorders can affect people of all genders and ages, research consistently shows that women experience a higher prevalence, greater severity, and diversity of symptoms.
Among women, body image concerns are often tied to the pressure to be “thin”, toned with a flat stomach, curves in the “right” places, and youthful, flawless skin. These ideals can contribute to a number of negative health outcomes, including low self-esteem, higher rates of body dissatisfaction, higher rates of eating disorders…, depression and anxiety, [and] body dysmorphic disorder.
In contrast, men’s body image concerns are commonly centred around the pressure to appear muscular, lean, and physically dominant. Men may also strive to avoid looking too thin or overweight and may feel that they are “not man enough” if they do not meet these expectations. As a result, men are more likely to experience growing concerns around body (including muscle) dysmorphia, pressure to engage in intense work outs, follow protein-heavy diets, or use supplements, [and] reluctance to express insecurities due to social stigma and expectations around emotional restraint (i.e., less likely to show vulnerability).
While women are often the primary targets of beauty standards, facing these pressures from a younger age, men may struggle in silence and delay help-seeking, with body image issues often underreported.
It is sad that a significant number of Australians face issues relating to their body image and sense of self. Greek Australians who experience these issues can begin by looking at their immediate environments and seeing where messages about body image come from.
Is it negative comments from family members? Unrealistic body expectations on social media? Or just a small nagging voice of your own making negative comments about yourself? Noticing these barriers can be the first step to healing your sense of self worth and feeling confident in your body.
