Body Image

Bianca, thirteen years old, worked a lot harder in gym, walked home faster than she usually would, and skipped meals when she noticed she had less space between her thighs. Seven year old Sharon goes to an eating disorder hospital and faints multiple times because she thinks she is fat. Bryan, twenty-one years old, overdosed on steroids and ended up in the hospital because he was not as big and built as the other guys in the gym. People constantly compare themselves and never seem satisfied with the way they look. With the changes in society and things and people being idolized, teens feel pressured to be something they are not and develop negative body image. From a young age, people begin to pay more attention to how they picture themselves and how they think others see them. Some develop positive body image, but others develop negative body image. It is estimated that millions more struggle with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem tied to dissatisfaction with body image (“Body Image & The Media” 1). According to Fitzhugh, some contributions to negative body image may be being neglected or abused during childhood, being around people who judge others only by the way they look, and being teased about appearance as a child or teenager (6). Another contribution to negative body image is the media. The media plays a hugh role to the way people view themselves. It influences the decisions a person makes in an average day and affects the environment as well. Body image is more than just physical appearance or how attractive you look (Fitzhugh 4). Fitzhugh states that it can be complex and includes physical sensations from the body, your emotions, and your thoughts (4). It is how one sees them self when they look in the mirror, what they believe about their own appearance (including memories, assumptions, and generalizations), and how someone feels about their body, including their height, weight, and shape. It is also how sense and