Your child’s body image is influenced by many factors. These factors include family environment, ability or disability, attitudes of peers, the media and advertising, the fashion industry and cultural background. Social media also has a big influence on teenage body image, particularly when teenagers post and view photos of themselves and others on social media.
As your child reaches puberty, fitting in and looking the same as other people becomes even more important. At the same time, her body is going through lots of changes, inside and out. This can mean your child might feel more pressure to look and act a certain way.
Negative teenage body image: risk factors
Some children are more likely than others to feel …show more content…
Teenage children in general, teenage girls in particular and overweight young people are also more likely to feel negative about their bodies or have an unhealthy body image.
Effects of unhealthy teenage body image
Unhealthy teenage body image is directly related to low self-esteem, which can lead to negative moods and mood swings.
Young people who are feeling down are more likely to focus on the negative messages around them and make negative comparisons between their body and what they see as an ‘ideal’ body.
Low self-esteem and poor body image are risk factors for the development of risky weight loss strategies, eating disorders and mental health disorders such as depression.
Teenage body image concerns: signs to watch out for
It’s normal for your child to be conscious of his body and want to look great and lead a healthy lifestyle. But when children focus too much on their bodies, it can lead to lots of anxiety and