Weighed down

Irish teens are too stressed about body image, says Arlene Harris.

WANTING to look good is part of being a teenager, but according to a new report, widely publicised this week, from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, young Irish people are more concerned about their image than many of their international counterparts.

The survey, of 2,100 teens, entitled How We See It: Report of a Survey on Young People’s Body Image, showed that 77% said their body image was important to them (compared to only 32% of Australian teens), and a worrying 43% were dissatisfied with their body shape. Almost twice as many girls (52%) as boys (29%) exercised to control their weight, with four times as many boys (50%) as girls (12%) using exercise to build muscle.

Responding to the findings, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said: “Growing up is never easy. But, for some young people, it can prove particularly tough. It is clear that for many young people’s concerns over their body image can be a source of much stress and pressure.”

Harriet Parsons, of Bodywhys, the Eating Disorder Association of Ireland, says while teenage angst is natural, the added pressure of modern media can make body image even more stressful for youngsters.

“Teenagers today are bombarded and surrounded by images of what is perceived as perfect, or imperfect, images that are distorted, photo-shopped, changed in order to create an aesthetic that sets the standard ever higher in terms of what is acceptable to society at large,” she says.

“The phenomenon of social media also creates a new ball game; teenagers are challenged and can suffer in new ways, maybe not encountered to such a degree by past generations.”

But although teens are under pressure from their peers to look a certain way, parents can help their children to feel more secure and confident.

“One of the most important things a parent can do is be comfortable and happy with their own body image and how they experience themselves in the world,” says Parsons.

“It can be hard for parents to ensure their children hear the message of how important it is to be comfortable in your own skin, and how being healthy and happy is not just about being thin enough or looking a certain way.

“But keeping healthy habits, being comfortable in your skin, and always trying to keep the lines of communication open will go along way to helping teenagers through these years that can be full of challenges on many different levels.”

¦ For anyone struggling with issues around eating disorders and negative body image, Bodywhys has a locall helpline 1890 200 444 and email support service [e-mail].

Visit www.bodywhys.ie