Body Image in Adolescence

Ever heard 15 yr. olds lament about how ugly they feel? Or how they wish their hair had been better, or their

body been leaner and taller? This is an example of a negative body image, also known as body dissatisfaction.

One’s perception, beliefs and feelings about one’s body, is largely known as body image. It includes how the

individual believes the outside world views their body and how they believe their body fits with what the world

considers normal. It’s important to note that body image is independent of the actual appearance of a person

and may change over time.

Body image can be positive (for e.g., “I have lovely hair”) or negative (“I am the ugliest in my class”). A healthy

body image is one where the individual accepts oneself with the flaws, for e.g., “I am unusually tall, but that

gives me an edge over others in sports.” An unhealthy body image is one which leads to unpleasant thoughts

about oneself, reduces self-confidence and may lead to unhealthy consequences, for e.g., a perception that

one is overweight when actually one has a healthy BMI, may lead to the development of an eating disorder.

Adolescence is a period marked by strong changes in the physical appearance. This is also a time when

individuals tend to value the opinions of others around them more than ever before and often allow this opinion

to influence their own. Although, people of all ages have a certain body image, adolescents are more

susceptible to developing a negative body image than any other age group. Adolescent females are more

sensitive about their body image as compared to boys. However, the concept of body image is very relevant in

both genders.

Body image is strongly influenced by one’s self-esteem and self-evaluation. These are further influenced by a

host of external factors. Some of these are:

Media:  The representation of the supposed “ideal” body, hair, weight, skin colour, etc., in the media has often been the cause of dissatisfaction with one’s appearance. Even the popular toys in childhood, like dolls, are often brought under scanner for promoting negative self-image in young girls.

Family:  Much of what a growing individual learns about appearance and self-image can be traced back to the ideas which the family hold on to. Although, parents don’t intentionally try to undermine their children, for some reason most parents want their children to be the best from all angles among the children of their friends. This is where, the foundation of comparing oneself to others, whether somebody real from one’s peer group, or somebody from a fashion magazine, is laid. In the long run, this often proves harmful.

Peer Group:  Adolescence is the age where peer influence is at it’s peak. The desire to be accepted by one’s peer group may lead to unhealthy behaviour and sometimes unwanted emotions. If a girl’s peer group emphasises being thin and doll like, then she, who may be slightly healthy will feel immense pressure to comply.

Some common signs that your child may have a negative body image are:

Avoidance of family dinner time

Extreme anxiety about appearance

Unusual eating habits

Inappropriate dieting

Always wanting to eat alone

Unusual moodiness

Sudden extreme weight loss

Over exercising

Reluctance to talk

Frequent comparison of one’s body with somebody else’s

Frequently scrutinising self in the mirror.

A prolonged negative body image can lead to several unpleasant consequences. Apart from a reduced level of self-confidence, self-esteem, self-respect, etc., it can also lead to the development of more severe conditions like eating disorders, substance abuse, body dysmorphic disorder, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders among others (more about these in detail in later blogs).How can you develop a positive body image in your child?

Be a good role model to your child. This would mean having a positive body image yourself as well as being aware of your conversations and feelings about appearance in general. Cribbing about your weight gain in front of your children during dinner time will not help.

Demonstrate healthy eating behaviour to your children.

Focus on non-appearance related traits when discussing others and praise your child for academic success, rather than demeaning them for being fat.

Discuss the changes that occur during adolescence, with your teen. Try to make them see that there is world beyond outer beauty & appearance.

It’s not possible to regulate the media usage of your adolescent, but it’s always possible to and is a good strategy to discuss what they are learning from the media. For e.g., you can discuss the images of models from a magazine your child reads and talk about the reality of such images.

If you suspect your teenage child to be having an unhealthy body image then:

Talk to him/her about it. Find out their opinions about their appearance and whether they are satisfied with the way they look.

Look for signs that suggest a presence of any eating disorders, like frequent purging after meals, avoiding eating, and the like.

Spend more quality family time with the focus on your child and his/her needs.

Seek professional help; you can approach your child’s school counsellor or a psychologist / clinical psychologist.

In conclusion I would say that love yourself and your body. Ensure that your children also get this message. Only if you are happy in your skin, will you be able to tackle the challenges of life. Also see more info @ http://www.parentedge.in