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Body Image in Young Adults

By Iris Farrou 21 Aug, 2019 Diet & Exercise, Lifestyle Tips, Mental Health body image, mental health tips, mental health women

Body image issues are pervasive in today’s society. Approximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies, while only 5% of women naturally have the supposedly “ideal” body type as portrayed in the media. A negative body image in young adults can lead to many adverse effects, such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.

It is especially important to reach out to young adults regarding a healthy body image, as 95% of people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25. Additionally, it is crucial to keep in mind that body image issues do not only affect women and girls, despite common stereotypes. Research suggests that 10% of people treated for eating disorders are male.

In teenagers and young adults, there are many causes of body image issues. The list below, while certainly not exhaustive, contains some of the most common factors in the development of a negative body image.

Natural weight gain and body changes due to puberty
Peer pressure/negative friend group
Cultural differences and expectations
Unreasonable body image expectations from media images, celebrities, etc.
Family members or trusted adults who are overly concerned with their own weight or appearance or their teen’s weight or appearance
Exposure to material that sexualizes young people

In encouraging positive body image, the most important component is encouraging and open communication regarding changing bodies and outside influences. You can’t completely control the messages that young women are exposed to on a daily basis, but you can help them process and deconstruct these messages in a healthy manner.

Tips for encouraging positive body image in teens and young adults:

Set a positive body image example: Young women look up to the trusted adults in their lives to model appropriate behavior and expectations. Be mindful of the language that you use regarding your own body and avoid criticizing others’ bodies.
Communicate about puberty and body changes: Puberty is a confusing time for any teen to navigate, especially when dealing with seemingly random and rapid changes in their mental, emotional, and physical states. As a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult, you can help your teen deal with this difficult experience with open and honest communication regarding what to expect and how to process it, especially reassuring them that they are not alone and that what they are going through is completely normal.
Encourage positive friendships: Help the young women in your life build an accepting and caring friend group. Teenagers are heavily influenced by their peers, so while you cannot (and should not) choose their friends for them, you can encourage them to gravitate towards people who share their values and goals.
Foster healthy habits rather than a certain body type: Instead of focusing on a certain ideal weight or body size, encourage your teen to choose healthy foods that make them feel good and are also tasty.
Discuss media and cultural messages: Encourage your teen to question messages from social media, the Internet, television, etc., especially regarding body pressures.
Praise achievements: Compliment teenagers on their achievements, efforts, and skills, rather than appearance.
Promote enjoyable physical activity: Help your teen to find enjoyable physical activities. Make exercise about fun and feeling good rather than achieving a certain body type.

Body Positivity: How to Love Your Body and Inspire Your Daughter to Do the Same

By admin 03 May, 2018 Women's Health body image, body positive, body positivity, how to love your body, love your body

Little girl hugging herself As a woman raising a daughter, you want her to grow into a confident, capable, and healthy woman. After all, in your mind, she is the most beautiful and exceptional girl in the world, and she should realize that too. Understand, however, that your beliefs, attitudes, and comments about your own body are some of the most impactful factors that will dictate how your daughter feels about her own. According to a report by Common Sense Media, five to eight-year-olds who think their mothers are unhappy with their bodies are more likely to feel dissatisfied with their bodies in return. With swimsuit season quickly approaching, now more than ever, learn to break the habit of negative self-image talk and be the confident woman you hope your daughter will be one day too. Keep reading for five tips for learning to be body positive.

Accept that What You See in the Media is Not a Standard to Which You Should Aspire. Your Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook feeds are likely full of images of celebrities, social media personalities, and even acquaintances who appear to be thinner, fitter, and happier than you. Remind yourself that what you see is only a curated compilation of moments in time and that you don’t have to be waiflike to be happy—because most women aren’t rail thin, and those who are, may not be healthy, or nearly as happy as they appear in your social stream.
Talk to Your Body Like It’s Your Friend. If your friend were having a bad day, and feeling bad about herself, you wouldn’t agree or toss further insults at her. You’d pick her back up on her feet and remind her of all of her unique qualities. Do the same for your body. After all, you’re going to be together for a long time.
Spread Your Positivity Around. If you find yourself criticizing yourself, that negativity could manifest into how you perceive others as well. Don’t let yourself become so obsessed with weight, body types, or small insignificant physical details that you find yourself thinking (or saying!) negative comments about other people’s bodies. By remaining positive about others, you will find ways to be positive about yourself. And by being positive about yourself, you will effortlessly be positive about others. It’s a happy cycle.
Forgive Yourself. If you are trying to eat healthily, go to yoga class, and drink plenty of water, but find it’s not always easy to be consistent while you are running around after your toddler and doing double duty as a mom and a dedicated employee, give yourself a break. Cheat on your diet one day? Forgive yourself and recommit tomorrow. Haven’t seen the scale budge in weeks? Don’t let that be a reason to stop trying to make healthy choices. Forgiveness is an essential predecessor to acceptance, which is a critical step toward happiness.
Surround Yourself with Positive People. The people in your life can have a detrimental impact on your happiness if they are highly critical, self-deprecating, and unsupportive. You don’t need that level of negativity in your life. By surrounding yourself with people who share your values and appreciation for maintaining a positive body image, you will find that even on a bad day, you have the motivation to remain positive.

Remember, your body image doesn’t only impact you; it affects your daughter too. Be the confident, accepting woman you want your daughter to be, and you’ll both live happy, healthy lives.

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