As kids get older and become teens and then young adults, they are exposed to even more media and such, this therefore makes them "realize" what they're "supposed" to look like.
When girls look in magazines such as Seventeen, Teen Vogue, Glamour and etc., they see skinny and pretty.
When any teen, male or female, watches T.V. and sees things like the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show... It just isn't a realistic image of what actual girls and women look like.
Young girls and women see these models,
and desire to be exactly like them in every way
possible.
Young boys and men see these models and
expect that that's what their future girlfriends
and wives should/ will look like.
But that just isn't true.
"The most significant impact on body image was comparing oneself with others (53%), followed closely by bullying (46%), weight (42%), media (39%), and celebrities (38%)."
"Recent years have seen a significant increase in body dysmorphia in teen boys.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a psychiatric disorder in which the affected person is excessively concerned about an imagined or minor defect in their physical feature."
Bulimia: "When one eats compulsively, and then purges though self induced vomiting, diet pills, strict diets, fasts, engages in vigorous exercise, and etc, in order to prevent gaining weight."
- "Eating disorders usually start in the teens but may begin as early as 8."
Can lead to:
- Stomach Problems, Heart Problems, Kidney Problems, Dental Problems, and Dehydration
Anorexia: "An eating disorder in which the main characteristic is the restriction of food and the refusal to maintain a minimal, normal body weight."
- "Sometimes anorexia can get so severe that there can be a loss of mensus, (failure to menstruate)."
- Anorexia can even be fatal if it becomes that serious.
BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder): "is a body-image disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive preoccupations with an imagined or slight defect in one's appearance."
- People with BDD can dislike any part of their body, ... in reality, a perceived defect may be only a slight imperfection or nonexistent. But for someone with BDD, the flaw is significant and prominent, often causing severe emotional distress and difficulties in daily functioning."
We should live in a place where you are beautiful for being just you. Everyone is different and beautiful in their own way, and we should celebrate that. Teens and males and females in general should be comfortable with what they look like, and be proud. Everyone has a different bone structure, so it's impossible for us all to look like models anyway.
You should be proud that you're unique from everyone else in the world.
Embrace yourself.
Think about your girlfriends, sisters, younger cousins, even your future daughters...
What do you think should be done?
If you know someone struggling with Anorexia, Bulimia or BDD, you can contact the following places for help:
- http://ppc.centerforchange.com
- http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
- http://www.eatingdisordersonline.com/
General Statistics
- 64% of teen girls are not happy with their current weight
- 60% say they are not beautiful
- 66% said they would feel prettier if they were thinner
- 19% admit to throwing up after eating
- 75% have negative comments about their bodies
Body Image & Media
- Only 9% are proud of how they look
- And only 54% say they have a healthy body image
- 49% of boys and 37% of girls claimed that they were "fairly satisfied" with how they looked
- 26% of girls and 10% of boys claimed they were "dissatisfied"
- One of the main factors in teen promiscuity is self-esteem. When a teen has little or no self-confidence, he or she will use sex as a means to build confidence."
* "Beauty Becomes a Curse As More Teen Girls Reject Skin They're In." By Lisa Power, FAMILY REPORTER
*"A Third Of Young People Unhappy with Their Bodies, Survey Revels." By The Irish Times Oct. 16, 2012
In children's movies by Disney, Pixar and etc., all of the princesses are thin and pretty. In Shrek, the only time Fiona is heavier is when she's an ogre, when she's supposed to be "ugly."
When she turns into a human princess, then she is thinner and such.
Shrek does send somewhat of a positive message, because Shrek loves Fiona regardless of what she looks like... Yes, this is a great message; but it's still someone else approving of what you look like. We need to teach young girls and teens to approve of themselves, and be proud of what they look like. Fiona feels ugly when she's a big ogre... It's not a good message to send to young girls that basically you can't be bigger and pretty at the same time.
The media tends to focus ads towards teens and young kids. Because of this, from early on kids see that the ideal way to look is that you should be thin, or for boys, strong and muscular. This is such a strong message, that over the past 50 years even Barbie and G.I. Joe have changed entirely. So not only do kids see the way they "should look" on T.V. but even the toys they play with affect the way they see everything, including themselves.
If Barbie were a real, life size person, her measurements would be:
- 5'9" tall
- 110 lbs
- 39" bust
- 18" waist
- 33" hips
- size 3 shoe
- G.I. Joe's in general give off the idea that violence is power, and being big and strong is most important.
- This drives kids (when they reach their teens) to use steroids and take part in acts of violence.
Obviously anyone this way would not be able to walk or function like most people. Because of her proportions, Barbie would have to get around on all fours instead of walking on just two feet.
http://image.slidesharecdn.com/media-influences-females-to-change-their-appearance-1221443973884007-8/95/slide-18-728.jpg?1221437204
Male Model Requirements:
Height: 5'11" - 6'2"
Weight: 140 - 175
Chest: 37" - 42"
Muscular
Smooth Skin
"Teenage boys can be prone to obsessive exercising,
binge eating, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, steroid abuse and diet aid abuse."
"It is estimated that about 45% of Western men are unhappy with their bodies – 25 years ago, only 15% were unhappy with their bodies."
*"A Third Of Young People Unhappy with Their Bodies, Survey Revels." By The Irish Times Oct. 16, 2012
Growing up in today's world and trying to look "perfect," young kids and teens face many challenges trying to fit in.
"As many as 10 million Americans are struggling with eating disorders... 500,000 of these people are teens."
In order to be thin, and even look like models, many teens run into the following problems:
- Bullying
- Depression
- Anorexia
- Bulimia
- BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder)
Although the media usually sends negative messages, when stars like Demi Lovato and Keira Knightley do overcome an eating disorder... The media allows for girls to see that if these famous people can get better and become healthier, then maybe they can too.
Even though these are inspirational stories from stars, we do not want eating disorders to be seen as a positive thing. Like "Oh if she started and then stopped, maybe I can too just to lose weight for the time being..."