Body Image

These images have often been edited, the bodies have been reshaped, skin tones have been altered, acne has been removed and teeth have been whitened. Even more worryingly influencers and models who upload these images will sometimes be trying to sell the latest diet tea or protein shake and crediting these products for the way that they look. These images provide unhealthy and unrealistic expectations to young people and can have a significant impact on their self-esteem and even the development into disordered eating. There are always ever changing ‘trends’ in the ideal body type. Young men may strive for a muscular appearance for example whereas young women may strive to be unhealthily slim or have larger hips.

Top Tips

• Try and avoid discussing dieting for weight loss in front of your young person

• Model positive self-talk about your own body

• Have open discussions about body image and how we view ourselves. This could include discussing who they follow on social media

• Have discussions around how our bodies are amazing and what they can do (dance, keep us alive, run, make babies, hug the ones we love, eat amazing food)

• Try and remind your young person that the images they see have often been edited or the person may have had plastic surgery or fillers

• It might be a good idea to remove the scales from the house if you find your young person using these at an alarming rate

• Remind your young person that we are all different. Even if we all ate the exact same food and did the exact same amount of exercise, we would still not all look the same