Body Positivity or Body Obsession? Learning to See More & Be More | Lindsay Kite | TEDxSaltLakeCity

TEDx Talks

In this compelling TEDx talk, Lindsay Kite, PhD, challenges the traditional narrative of body positivity. Rather than simply widening the definition of beauty to include more shapes and sizes, Kite argues for a more radical shift: moving away from defining women by their appearance entirely. She shares her personal journey from quitting competitive swimming as a teenager due to body shame to reclaiming her power as an adult, illustrating how we can transition from viewing our bodies as ornaments to be looked at, to instruments for our use. The video dives deep into the psychological concept of "self-objectification"—the habitual monitoring of one's body from an outsider's perspective—and explains how this mental energy drain negatively impacts physical and cognitive performance. Kite introduces the framework of "Body Image Resilience," outlining three distinct paths people take when facing body shame: sinking into harmful behaviors, hiding and fixing (the status quo), or rising with resilience to repurpose the pain into power. This resource is highly valuable for high school and collegiate health, psychology, and sociology classrooms. It moves beyond superficial "love yourself" messaging to provide concrete theoretical frameworks and actionable strategies for mental health. Teachers can use this video to spark critical discussions about media literacy, the difference between health and aesthetics, and practical coping mechanisms for anxiety and shame.