What is it?
- Body image & weight can trigger emotional problems.
- Beauty standards can contribute to low self-esteem.
- Self-compassion & seeking support are essential.
Here's more detail
Description
Body weight and body image can be significant triggers for emotional health problems among young people. Adolescence is a time of immense change, both physically and emotionally, and the pressure to conform to beauty standards can be overwhelming. Many young people may feel self-conscious about their bodies or experience body dissatisfaction, which can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety, depression or the development of eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
It’s essential to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all definition of beauty, and everyone’s body is unique. Social media, peer comparisons and societal pressures can amplify feelings of inadequacy, but it’s crucial to remember that these unrealistic beauty ideals aren’t reflective of reality. Developing a healthy body image involves self-acceptance and self-compassion. Seeking support from trusted adults, like parents or school counselors, and surrounding oneself with positive influences can help you navigate the complex emotions related to body image.
Description
- Learn more
The UK Mental Health Foundation explains that while exact estimates vary, depending on how body image is measured, concerns and worries about appearance are commonplace among young people. One survey of 11–16-year-olds in the UK by Be Real found that 79% said how they look is important to them, and over half (52%) often worry about how they look. In our survey of young people aged 13–19, 35% said their body image causes them to ‘often’ or ‘always’ worry.
While body image concerns affect both boys and girls, research suggests that girls are more likely to be dissatisfied with their appearance and their weight than boys. In our survey, 46% of girls reported that their body image causes them to worry ‘often’ or ‘always’ compared to 25% of boys. Body image concerns can also affect very young children. One review found studies identifying body dissatisfaction in children under the age of six, though estimates of the degree of dissatisfaction varied widely depending on how it was measured.
Young people also tell us that body image is a substantial concern, with 16–25-year-olds identifying it as the third biggest challenge currently causing harm to young people, with lack of employment opportunities and failure to succeed within the education system is the first two.
If you’re struggling with body image, here’s some advice from the Children’s Society that may help you.
- Keep a top ten list of things you like about yourself: Things that are not related to how much you weigh or what you look like. Read your list often.
- Remind yourself that true beauty is not skin-deep: Look at yourself as a whole person; beauty is a state of mind and not a state of body.
- Surround yourself with positive people: It’s easier to feel good about yourself and your body when you are around others who are supportive and who recognise the importance of liking yourself just as you are.
- Clothes: Wear clothes that are comfortable and make you feel good about your body.
- Body image, the media and social media: Be aware of images, slogans, or attitudes that make you feel bad about yourself or your body. Remember that images may have been edited by Photoshop.
- Do something nice for yourself: Do something that lets your body know you appreciate it. Take a bubble bath, make time for a nap or find a peaceful place outside to relax.
To learn more about the relationship between weight / body image and mental health, visit the links below.
Stat/fact
A 2019 survey found that among teenagers, 37% felt upset, and 31% felt ashamed about their body image.
Video
This BBC film aims to demonstrate the potential negative effects of beating ourselves and others up about our bodies.
TV personalities Melissa Suffield and Radzi Chinyanganya conduct their Bright Body Talk Test at a secondary school in Bristol by banning negative body teasing and encouraging young people to emphasise their positive qualities.
They also make us aware of how commonly we engage in body bullying directed at ourselves, and how this might affect our body image.
Some resources that may help:
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