Download Body Image Introduction Body Anxiety Briefing 204

Briefing
April 2017
204
Body Image
Introduction
Body image is a person’s idea of what they look like. It is represented by a picture of what a
person has of themselves in their mind as well as what others perceive them to be and look like.
The picture may be different to what other people see and at times an individual can like or dislike
what they see. Children and young people tend to be particularly conscious of the way they look,
so their body image can be closely linked to how they feel about themselves as a person. This can
lead to low self-esteem, lack of confidence, eating disorders, bullying (both online and offline), self
harm and in some cases suicide. Anxieties around body image for children and young people can,
at times, be difficult to detect. External influences, such as societal ideals and the importance
placed on celebrity culture and lifestyle can lead to children and young people becoming
extremely aware of their image and subsequently placing an enormous amount of pressure to
conform. External pressures from celebrity culture, social media and peer groups can increase the
pressure on children and young people to have the perfect body or to not be entirely happy with
the body which they have. Professionals are encouraged to engage in positive dialogues around
body image and must understand the pressures which are facing children and young people today.
This briefing aims to give an overview on Body Image and is based on a study Somebody Like Me:
A report investigating the impact of body image anxiety on young people in the UK
(http://www.berealcampaign.co.uk/assets/filemanager/documents/Somebody_like_me%20v1.0.p
df), carried out by the Be Real Campaign a national movement made up of individuals, businesses,
charities and public bodies.
Body Anxiety
Research suggests that there are two types of body image which must be explored to understand
the complexities of body anxiety. The first is ‘body confidence’, which is how a child or a young
person sees themself, how they appreciate themselves and how they react to that accordingly.
The second is ‘self objectification’ - what a child or young person thinks the world thinks of them,
how they think others perceive them and what they feel they need to do in order to be accepted.
These things coupled together result in anxieties being both internalised and externalised
therefore adding to the complexities of body anxiety.
Prevalence of Concerns
Four in five young people (79%) said how they look is important to them; research showed that
anxieties tended to widen as children grew older.
A distinction exists between males and females, with females being more likely to agree that the
way they look is important to them (83%), compared to their male counterparts (74%). When
examining the importance young people place on what others think about the way they look,
females were more likely to agree (67%) that what others think about the way they look is
important to them, compared to males (59%). Young females are more likely to relate body
confidence with things like their hair, clothes and make up. Females speak more to their peers
about their body anxieties however males feel that a discussion around body anxiety would not
warrant a discussion amongst their peers.
Research showed that males tended to be more dismissive over the notion of body image anxiety.
Unlike females, males did not feel the pressures with regards to body weight but did feel that they
should be taller and more muscular. There are growing concerns around young males wanting the
‘bodybuilder’ frame. Peer pressure, the desire to be popular, to be better at sports, celebrity and
social media culture, as well as bullying, has resulted in some young males wanting to be “ripped”,
“hench”, have “big guns”1 or have a six pack. These anxieties can start from a young age and can
become obsessive and take over a young persons’ life, these pressures can lead to the improper
use of protein supplements as well as the illegal use of steroids.
The external pressures young people face to look a certain way are illustrated by the fact that
nearly two thirds of young people (63%) said that what others think about the way they look is
important to them. This can lead to the issue dominating a child’s life, their choices and their
behaviour. The constant need for validation amongst their peers, whether due to societal
expectations, the media, peer pressure, or bullying can increase the risk of body image anxiety.
This affects a child’s health and wellbeing and their mental health.
Body image ideals can be equally damaging for a young person, especially during their early years
when they are still developing and their bodies are changing naturally. Some young people
struggle with their self-esteem and body image when they begin puberty because it's a time when
the body goes through many changes. These changes, combined with wanting to feel accepted by
friends, results in young people comparing themselves to those around them. This raises concerns
as every child does not grow or develop at the same time or in the same way.
Where does body anxiety come from?
Research has suggested that the number of expectations that surround a child or young person’s
appearance has increased image anxiety amongst this group. Where females were most likely to
report pressures to be thin, whilst still maintain curves, males felt pressure to be tall and
muscular.
1
These terms are commonly used to describe a certain look of a muscular, larger frame for males.
Media and Celebrity Culture
Advertising, fashion, music and celebrity images have resulted in children and young people
feeling that they must adhere to what is proposed as the ‘perfect body’ or ‘perfect look’. The
research states that children and young people get their inspiration from reality TV stars and those
celebrities that frequently surround them, as opposed to high end fashion models. For many
young people these celebrities are the embodiment of ‘perfection’. Young people more commonly
felt that the scrutiny celebrities faced reinforced the importance of ‘perfection’, and they often
internalised the criticisms, relating them to their own appearance.
Social Media
Children and young people are using online and social media platforms increasingly each day. Sites
such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Whatsapp etc are increasingly dominating
children and young people’s lives. Young people are becoming more aware of celebrities and
media images - as well as how others look and how they fit in. Young people may start to compare
themselves with other people or media images (‘ideals’ that are frequently airbrushed). All of this
can affect how they feel about themselves and their bodies even as they grow.
Peer Groups
Although groups of individuals do not necessarily create the appearance ideal, peer groups
generally underpin and reinforce the ideals and expectations. Children and young people can feel
judged, scrutinised and are at times bullied for their appearance which leads to low self-esteem
and serious mental health issues. It is not just physical appearance but also what children and
young people wear and the certain brands of clothing they buy. Pressure is put on children and
young people to wear or buy certain clothes just to fit in. They may also experience negative
comments and hurtful teasing about the way they look from classmates and peers. Although these
often come from ignorance, sometimes they can affect body image and self-esteem.
Body image anxieties damage gender stereotypes and encourage the notion that females must
change their appearance based on the needs of males. It is not just body type and shape that
contribute to anxiety amongst females; additional pressures relating to their appearance including
make-up and clothing can have a strong effect.
Many young people compare their own appearance, shape and weight to those of their own age
which can lead to them feeling more insecure, lacking confidence and embarrassed. Often this can
result in obsessive behavioural traits; becoming obsessed with what they eat, calorie consumption
and the desire to be the ‘ideal weight’ can lead to eating disorders, depression and anxiety.
Family and Society
Some young people said that they feel a lot of pressure to look a certain way. Those in their early
teens felt the most pressure from other young people and the media to be skinnier. Some said
that growing up would have been much easier if they had been a smaller size. Some young people
believe the only way to resolve these issues and to be happy is with surgery. This raises concerns
about the level of confidence young people have and the measures they are willing to take to
create the ‘perfect body’ or image.
Family life can sometimes influence body image. Some parents or sports coaches might be too
focused on looking a certain way or ‘making weigh’ for a sports team. Family members might
struggle with their own body image or criticise their children’s looks. Children and young people
pick up on conversations adults have. If they are in an environment where an older relative or
parent is constantly dieting or discussing their image in a negative way, this can affect a child’s
perspective of their own image. This can all influence a person's self-esteem, especially if they're
sensitive to other peoples' comments. Even a passing comment made by a relative or a friend
about body size could be very distressing. The feeling of being judged can prevent young people
from doing what they want to do.
Professional Response / Next Steps
Research suggests that interventions targeted at young people must be rooted in their
experiences and opinions to help tackle the growing body image anxiety experienced by young
people.
Action must be taken to:

Tackle the body image ‘ideals’ presented to young people and reduce the value placed
on appearance in society.
Young people felt that tackling the imagery which surrounds the roots of body image anxiety is
vital to creating a shift. More diversity and a proper representation of the different body types is
required to create that change. Less use of airbrushing and digital photographic manipulation
should be encouraged in the advertising, fashion and social media world. A more positive stance
as opposed to body shaming which is openly publicised should dominate the pages of magazines
and fashion imagery.

Encourage schools to become settings that promote and foster body confidence among
young people.
Body image anxiety and confidence should be discussed in schools openly. Speaking about body
image within schools is vital; it may increase the probability that children and young people are
aware of their body image but it has positive outcomes by opening up dialogues on what seems to
be an extremely unrecognised, undisclosed, hidden issue. Speaking about body anxiety helps to
normalise the issue and this will have a positive impact on those children and young people who
require help and support.

Support parents and carers to promote body confidence among young people.
Parents and carers should be properly equipped with the tools and resources to be able to talk to
and support their children if they have body image anxieties. Often parents and carers dismiss the
severity of the issue, therefore better education is required for parents to be able to have open
and comfortable discussions with their children and to be able to deal with any concerns
appropriately and effectively.

Equip young people with the means to tackle the causes of body image anxiety.
Young people should be empowered to have the confidence to speak up and make changes. Tools
and resources should be provided to children and young people to better equip themselves with
the knowledge around body anxiety, the potential harm it can cause as well as the effects it has on
those around them. As mentioned above, peer groups have a role to play, young people must feel
confident to challenge harmful language and behaviour, to not reciprocate and refuse to be a part
of the cycle of judgement and scrutiny.
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