Diets and Body Image

There is a lot of pressure in our society to be thin. Kids want to look like actors, models and sports figures. The media presents an “ideal” look for girls and boys. Advertising promotes the idea that anyone can achieve this look with the right diet, the right clothes and makeup or the right exercise programme.

Children at younger and younger ages are expressing concern about being too fat, and are experimenting with diets and other weight loss measures.

This can interfere with growth, development and overall health.

For example:

Teen girls who lose too much body fat from dieting and over-exercising may stop having their periods and develop osteoporosis.
Teen boys may take steroids.
Teen girls smoke cigarettes in an effort to be thinner.
Some young people will go on to develop eating disorders.

Did you Know...

61% of Grade 7 girls had dieted to lose weight, even though they were already at a healthy weight (McVey et al, 2002)
By age 18, 80% of girls at a healthy weight reported that they would like to lose weight (McCreary Centre Society, 1999)
27% of school girls aged 12 to18 years showed significant symptoms of eating disorders (Jones et al, 2001)

It isn't just girls who have body image issues. Increasing numbers of boys are feeling dissatisfied with their bodies too.

Did you Know...

0% of Grade 9 boys were unhappy with their bodies, increasing to 40% by Grade 11
17.2% of Grade 9 boys wanted to lose weight, increasing to 22.8% by Grade 11
9.4% of Grade 9 boys reported wanting to be bigger, increasing to 18% by Grade 11

(Little & Page, 2000)

Take Action... Tips on how to help your children feel good about their bodies