Body Neutral

March 13, 2023
Kneeland presents a fresh approach to body acceptance in their thought-provoking debut. Drawing on their experience as a personal trainer and body image coach, the author argues that the body positivity movement and its “all bellies are beautiful” slogans are flawed since they tie self-worth to appearance. Instead, Kneeland advocates for “body neutrality,” which involves “stripping our bodies of all false... meaning,” and is a more realistic goal for those unable to meet society’s thin, white ideal. To achieve body neutrality, readers should identify what drives their body fixations (and associated diet and exercise behaviors)—such as winning external validation, or feeling a sense of psychological control over their life—and then brainstorm healthier coping mechanisms to address the root issue. Readers should also envision a future in which their emotional needs are met. Doing so, the author writes, will free readers from obsessing over appearance and allow them to ask themselves, for example “What would need to be different for to stop placing so much... power on body?” and then formulate micro-steps toward that goal. Kneeland outlines an inclusive attitude toward self-acceptance aimed at readers of all races and gender identities, and the advice is informed without getting preachy. Anyone hoping to repair a troubled relationship with their body should give this a look.

May 1, 2023
Many of us have love/hate relationships with our bodies. Former personal trainer and current life coach Kneeland, who identifies as queer and nonbinary, spent years trying to help clients make the changes they felt they needed to like their bodies. But something was still missing. With body neutrality, the emphasis is shifted away from the physical body. Instead, practitioners search for the underlying unmet needs and unresolved psychological issues that underlie their unhappiness with their bodies. Kneeland identifies four avatars or symbolic representations to promote healing. ""The Self-Objectifier"" focuses on gaining power, ""The High Achiever"" focuses on proving personal worth, ""The Outsider"" focuses on fitting in, and ""The Runner"" focuses on surviving. A self-assessment test helps readers zero in on the appropriate avatar, and the chapters that follow detail characteristics, explore a client's case as a guiding example, develop a blueprint for recovery, and set action steps. There's a lot here for readers who are serious about coming to terms with their body image and willing to do the work to make it happen.

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Starred review from June 10, 2024

As a survivor of sexual violence and disordered eating, life coach and former personal trainer Kneeland has experienced significant trauma, and their TED Talk on body neutrality offered up those experiences in order to suggest that the currently buzzy trend of body positivity isn't just elusive: for many, it's impossible and even triggers additional feelings of self-recrimination. Their new book is action-oriented and accessible, organized first around a debunking of body myths and then a classification of archetypes or "avatars" (dominant body image types) and culminating with a step-by-step approach to achieving body neutrality, which is not a fixed goal but rather an adaptable, fluid outcome. From body checking and self-objectification to validation, humiliation, shame, and much more, this book strips away the socially constructed rules that govern our valuing of bodies and provides highly individualized pathways into body neutrality that anyone can add to their lives. VERDICT A must-read for anyone interested in wellness trends, trauma and embodiment, and gender theory. It's as suitable for academic libraries as it is for everyday readers tired of fighting against their desire to be or seem a specific way.--Emily Bowles

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