Three quarters of Brits believe society’s obsession with the perfect body is damaging our mental health, research shows.
The study also found eight in 10 people find body transformation photos demotivating - with ‘before and after’ images leaving half of us feeling insecure.
The poll of more than 5,000 adults revealed 64% of women hate body transformation images so much they would like to see them banned from social media.
While 60% of women polled said they are tired of seeing ‘perfect’ bodies online.
The research, released on World Mental Health Day, also found Brits were among the most insecure about our bodies in Europe, with 53% feeling insecure about themselves, compared to 45% in Germany and 43% in France.
The research comes as sportswear brand ASICS launches a campaign with mental health charity Mind to refocus on exercise’s ability to lift the mood.
The campaign, supported by TV personality Dr Alex George, body confidence influencer Jada Sezer and Strictly host Motsi Mabuse, aims to encourage exercise for the mental health benefits over any aesthetic transformation.
Dr Alex George said: “When I was younger, I really used exercise as a weapon, to try and look thin, to look a certain way. When I went on Love Island a few years later, I was over training, and it wasn’t good for my mental health.
“Now, I’ve changed the way I view exercise and it’s really helped my mental health. I move for my mind, rather than to look a certain way.”
Jada Sezer added: “No pain, no gain, has never resonated with me, it’s always been about how it makes me feel, not look.”
Gary Raucher, of ASICS, said: “The culture of ‘body transformation’ images, driven largely through social media, has conditioned society to view exercise through the lens of physical change.
“At ASICS, we believe the true benefit of sport and movement goes beyond the body to also uplift the mind.”
Hayley Jarvis, Head of Physical Activity at Mind, added: “Mind is a firm believer in the power of movement, however small, to support better mental health.
“Our aim is to support more people to get active to help them to thrive.
"Our own research shows that many people are put off exercising because they feel self-conscious. The more we can do to remove the barriers to people enjoying the benefits of exercise, the better.”
