‘You’re fully accepted’: Being nude in public can make us feel better about our bodies (via bbc.co.uk)

Some interesting thoughts and a good read I found on the net:

**’You’re fully accepted’: Being nude in public can make us feel better about our bodies**
By Molly Gorman, 23rd August 2026
Research suggests that naturism, the practice of non-sexual social nudity, can help people improve their body image. Naturists and experts tell the BBC how it works.
Helen Berriman believes she would have had a “much better understanding” of her body had she discovered naturism, the practice of non-sexual social nudity, earlier in her life.
In the summer of 2020, Berriman bought herself a bikini to wear during a heatwave. She hadn’t worn one in 20 years, having struggled with body dysmorphia (a condition where someone fixates on perceived flaws in their appearance) for most of her life. Around a year later, her husband introduced her to naturism.
“Naturism is engaging in social nudity with no expectation, no presence of sexual stimulation,” says Kerem Soylemez, assistant professor of psychology at Regent’s University London.
Research suggests that being around other naked bodies can help people improve their body image. Naturists and psychologists explain why it can be a powerful way to redefine our relationships with our bodies.
Naturism and body image
Martha Vickery “genuinely hated” every single bit of her body before she went to her first naturist event.
Poor body image – which is prevalent on a global scale – involves preoccupation and dissatisfaction with one’s body, typically regarding its shape, weight, or specific features. In the US, around 51% of adults feel pressure to conform to a certain body type. In the UK, around 1 in 8 adults have experienced suicidal thoughts or feelings because of body image concerns…

Continue to the source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20260820-how-social-nudity-can-boost-your-body-image