Ugh, Im huge. My thighs look like tree trunks in these shorts.

When a friend starts criticizing their body in front of you , its hard to know what to say. Your instinct might be to tell them theyre crazy to even think that. Or maybe you feel inclined to jump in and start talking badly about your own body to make them feel less alone.

But these go-to responses, however well-intentioned, can actually do more harm than good. We asked an eating disorder therapist and a psychology professor to explain why engaging in this kind of negative body talk can be so damaging and how to handle it instead.

The Negative Effects Of Fat Talk