Introduction: Body positivity promotes the acceptance of all bodies, regardless of size, shape, skin color, gender, and physical abilities. It aims to transform dominant beauty standards, encouraging respect for the body and recognizing its inherent value, regardless of societal ideals about appearance and function.
Method: A comprehensive review of existing literature was conducted, focusing on scientific articles discussing mental health and well-being. Additionally, websites with current social and commercial data were examined. Data sources included PubMed, Google Scholar, and social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok for audiovisual content.
Results: The findings indicated that body positivity improves self-esteem and mental health, particularly among women and young people, reduces body image anxiety, and encourages healthier eating habits. However, concerns exist about potential misinterpretations leading to unhealthy lifestyles.
Conclusion: While the body positivity movement has gained widespread recognition, it has also faced criticism for allegedly promoting unhealthy eating behaviors, extreme positions, and commercializing the concept. This has led to the rise of "Body Neutrality," which focuses less on positive body attitudes and more on balanced perspectives, paving the way for addressing negative aspects and creating future opportunities for improvement.
Keywords: Beauty standards; Body acceptance; Body positivity movement; Mental health; Social media.
© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.