Most of us know how it feels to look into the mirror and see something we don’t like about ourselves. Especially in today’s age where our Instagram feeds are full of beautiful, flawless people with seemingly perfect bodies. As a result, we look at our own bodies and suddenly all we see are flaws and how that new bathing suit hugs us in all the wrong places.
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Body confidence is an issue that many people struggle with. While there certainly is no right or wrong on what our bodies should look like, we all have our own idea of what we think is beautiful and how we feel in our own skin.
Online lingerie and swimwear retailer Bare Necessities conducted a survey of 2,800 women and men across the United States, asking them how confident they are with their bodies. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 means least confident and 10 means extremely body confident.
Here’s what the study revealed:
The average American’s body confidence rating is a 6.1 out of 10. Women are also generally less confident with their bodies than men, rating themselves 5.7 out of 10, compared to men’s 6.4.
When it comes to different age groups, the Americans over 65 are the most confident, rating themselves 6.4. The 45-54s (5.93) and the 35-44s (5.98) are the age groups with the lowest body confidence ratings.
The state with the highest levels of body confidence is Maine with a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Michigan on the other hand has the lowest rating with an average of just 5.1.
(Explore the interactive map below to see how body confidence compares across the United States!)
Created by Bare Necessities • View larger version
Megan Puma, swimwear expert at Bare Necessities, commented on the results: “Our survey shows that body image is still a big issue in the United States, with women suffering from anxiety about the way their bodies look. Summer is just around the corner, a season that can amplify anxiety over body image, with constant reminders to have the perfect beach body, but we are determined to spread the message that Americans need to refuse to let anything—or anyone—keep them from feeling confident in swimwear and having fun this summer. By rejecting unrealistic body ideals and appreciating your body for all it does, we can have a positive impact.”
