October Health – 2025 Report

Body image in United Kingdom

The leading cause of body image stress in the United Kingdom population is social media exposure, which often promotes unrealistic beauty standards and comparison. This is compounded by media portrayal in advertising and entertainment industries emphasizing certain body ideals. In the workplace, creating an environment that discourages appearance-based judgement and promoting body positivity can help reduce body image stress. October and October's digital group sessions on body confidence may also support employees struggling with these issues.

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Body image Prevalence
18.84%
Affected people
10,362,000

Impact on the people of United Kingdom

Effects of High Body Image Stress on Health and Personal Lives

  • Mental Health Impact

    • Increased risk of anxiety and depression
    • Lowered self-esteem and self-worth
    • Development of eating disorders or unhealthy eating habits

  • Physical Health Consequences

    • Chronic stress leading to issues such as headaches, fatigue, or gastrointestinal problems
    • Potential neglect of physical health due to poor self-care

  • Workplace Implications

    • Reduced concentration and productivity
    • Increased absenteeism due to stress-related conditions
    • Difficulty in social interactions with colleagues

  • Personal Life Challenges

    • Strained relationships due to low self-confidence or social withdrawal
    • Avoidance of social situations, leading to isolation
    • Negative impact on overall life satisfaction and happiness

For workplace support, consider introducing digital group sessions or assessments through platforms like October to improve awareness and coping strategies around body image stress.

Impact on the United Kingdom Economy

Effect of High Body Image Stress on an Economy

  • Reduced Productivity: Employees experiencing body image stress may have lower self-esteem and increased anxiety, leading to absenteeism and presenteeism (working while unwell), decreasing overall workplace productivity.

  • Increased Healthcare Costs: Higher rates of mental health issues such as depression and eating disorders, linked to body image stress, can lead to increased healthcare spending by employers and the NHS.

  • Workforce Attrition: Body image stress can contribute to burnout and turnover, raising recruitment and training costs for companies.

  • Lower Consumer Spending: Individuals affected by body image stress might reduce discretionary spending, impacting sectors like fashion, leisure, and hospitality.

  • Wider Societal Impact: The stigma and mental health burden reduce general economic participation and growth potential.

Workplace Recommendation: Consider implementing digital group sessions and mental health assessments through platforms like October to support employees struggling with body image stress, improving wellbeing and economic outcomes.

What can government do to assist? 

 Strategies for a Country to Lower Body Image Stress

1. **Implement Media Literacy Education**  
   Teach critical thinking about media portrayals of body image from an early age to reduce unrealistic standards.

2. **Promote Diverse Representations**  
   Encourage media and advertising industries to show diverse body types, ethnicities, ages, and abilities.

3. **Regulate Advertising**  
   Enforce guidelines to prevent digitally altered images and misleading representations of bodies.

4. **Support Workplace Wellness Programs**  
   Encourage employers to offer mental health resources, including sessions on body positivity and self-esteem (e.g., using digital group sessions like October).

5. **Increase Access to Mental Health Services**  
   Provide accessible and affordable mental health support focused on body image and self-esteem issues.

6. **Public Health Campaigns**  
   Launch campaigns that promote body acceptance and educate about the harms of body shaming.

7. **Engage Schools and Workplaces**  
   Integrate body positivity and mental health content into curriculums and employee wellbeing programs.

Using platforms like October for digital group sessions and assessments can help workplaces support employees dealing with body image stress effectively.

What can businesses do to assist their employees?

How Companies Can Lower Body Image Stress

  1. Promote Inclusive Language and Policies
    Encourage respectful communication and challenge unrealistic beauty standards in the workplace.

  2. Offer Mental Health Support
    Provide access to counselling services or digital tools like October, which offers group sessions and content around body image and self-esteem.

  3. Create a Positive Workplace Culture
    Celebrate diversity and focus on employees’ skills and contributions over appearance.

  4. Educate and Raise Awareness
    Use workshops or assessments to help employees understand body image issues and develop coping strategies.

  5. Encourage Healthy Lifestyle, Not Appearance
    Promote wellness activities that focus on health and well-being rather than weight or looks.