Jessica Simpson Tackles Her Low Self-Esteem

If you judged by her bio, you would assume that Jessica Simpson has it all: fame, fortune, family... Describing someone's material possessions and their external relationships, however, is highly different than understanding how they feel within themselves. In her case, Jessica allowed society's and the media's unkind comments about her weight gain to determine how she felt about herself.

"Beauty is easy to become obsessed with," Jessica told a People magazine interviewer recently. She was referring to her many years of looking at herself in her mirror and wanting to change something, which was made worse by the cruel remarks about her weight from bloggers, entertainment magazines, and other media.

After filming around the world for a reality show, The Price of Beauty, Jessica has changed her self-perception. "I carry myself differently," she was quoted in People magazine as saying, referring to her travels to different countries. "The journey was about finding what's beautiful inside me," Jessica added.

How Self-Esteem Can Impact Your Physical Health

When you lack self-esteem, you may want to try to shield yourself from the world, fearful of their judgment. As a result, you might slouch in an attempt to hide. The resulting poor posture can cause back problems and even headaches.

In addition, you may feel "not worthy" of time spent on health-related matters such as good nutrition, dental appointments, or exercise. "What difference does it make?" you tell yourself as you head for a fast food restaurant to try to stuff down your feelings with milkshakes and french fries.

The result: weight gain, bad teeth, poor posture...all of these items can make you feel even worse about yourself. It's a vicious cycle.

To change your perception of yourself, consider one or more of the following:

1. Talk with friends about how you feel. Be honest with them (make sure it's someone you trust) and ask for their help in taking care of yourself. Perhaps you can go for walks together or enjoy healthy potlucks.

2. Take time to do a hobby you enjoy. Even better: seek a volunteer opportunity for a cause in which you believe. For example, if you're an animal lover, ask your local animal shelter if they can use volunteer dog walkers or cat groomers. You'll help others as well as yourself.

3. If you feel depressed, seek professional help.