Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Safe Sex

Don’t let body issues get in the way of safe sex.
According to a survey, obese people have higher rates of STDs and unplanned pregnancies.

Even though they’re having sex less often, obese people report higher rates of STDs and four times the number of unplanned pregnancies than people of normal weight, according to a survey published in the British Medical Journal.
Past research indicates that poor body image and low self-esteem can lead to high-risk sexual behaviors, like practicing unsafe sex. The BMJ study corroborates this, finding that the overweight women surveyed were less likely to seek birth control advice or use oral contraceptives.
Low self-esteem can be a problem for many people, regardless of body type. Don’t let that get in the way of protecting yourself against STDs and unplanned pregnancies.