Half of girls aged 11-16 ‘restrict food to stay slim’

GIRLS start wanting to be thin at the age of 10, and half of 11 to 16-year-olds restrict what they eat to stay slim, a national survey of young British women found yesterday.

Girlguiding UK quizzed 1,109 girls and women aged seven to 21 on topics including binge drinking, eating disorders, plastic surgery, sexual health and body image. It found 24% of 16 to 21-year-olds would consider having cosmetic surgery, while 12% of 11 to 16-year-olds would consider having a gastric band or plastic surgery and 5% would think about Botox.

The researchers found a watershed after age 10 when it came to appearance.