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Parent Easy Guide 69
Young people, body image
and food
The teenage years are a time when
young people are developing eating and In the past it was mostly girls who were unhappy with their
lifestyle patterns for the future. Parents bodies. Studies now show the rate of body dissatisfaction
play a key role in helping them develop in boys is fast approaching that of girls. The biggest worry
healthy habits and routines. for boys is being lean, fit and muscular in an effort to be a
‘real’ man, ie fit a masculine stereotype.
Body image is strongly linked with eating
habits and lifestyle. It is important for Poor body image can put both boys
both boys and girls to develop a positive and girls at risk for harmful weight
body image because feeling good about management strategies, eating
your body provides a strong foundation disorders and mental health problems.
for good self-esteem and healthy
development.
Being a teenager can The influence of media
Media has more influence on young people’s body image
change everything and food choices than ever before due to the extensive
reach of digital media and advertising. There is a big focus
As children move into the pre-teen and teenage years on looks being more important than anything else about
they go through many physical, emotional and social you. The strong message is ‘You are what you look like’.
changes. Their brain and body go through many Images of ‘perfect bodies’ can create pressure for young
developmental changes. They are working out their own people going through the turmoil of puberty. This is
unique identity and what is important to them, forming often a time when they feel self-conscious and insecure
peer groups and moving towards independence. These about themselves. In an effort to live up to media
changes can affect how they feel about themselves and images girls can put their health at risk by extreme
how they look, how they view food and what they eat. dieting and exercise. Boys may over-exercise or use risky
Body image body-enhancing substances to ‘bulk up’, ie build muscle.
Social media has many benefits for young people,
Body image develops over time and is influenced by including helping them create their identity, express
many things, including family attitudes, peer groups, themselves and communicate with peers and others.
advertising, media, and social norms and expectations. Many social media sites now use photos more than
Body image isn’t about how your body looks – it is about text for communicating, eg Snapchat and Instagram.
how you see yourself, how you feel about the way you There is a lot of pressure to look good, and to ‘be
look, and how you think others see you. cool’ and popular.
Studies show that body image worries start early. Pre- For young people who are not confident or don’t feel
schoolers understand that society judges people by their popular with their peers, this can cause problems.
looks. Even young children can feel unhappy about their Teenage girls in particular can feel inadequate and
bodies and this can affect their relationship with food. Body develop body image problems when they spend a lot of
image becomes even more important in the teen years and time comparing themselves to the images of friends and
is a strong factor in young people’s self-esteem. peers on social media.
Celebrity culture has become a modern-day For most young people, dieting doesn’t last long and
phenomenon. Children and young people can be they soon return to their usual way of eating. If their
impressed by the glamourous looks and lifestyles of usual eating and activity habits are not healthy, they
their favourite musicians and actors. Studies show may be at risk of becoming overweight or obese.
that food and drink choices of children and teens They can also end up establishing a cycle of ‘yo-yo
are influenced by celebrity-endorsed products, most dieting’ and never learn to develop a healthy and
of which are unhealthy and linked with obesity and balanced lifestyle.
childhood diabetes. Dieting can be dangerous for some teens who feel
unhappy about their body. It can lead to more serious
Both boys and girls can be influenced eating problems and increase the risk of developing an
by the false expectations created by eating disorder.
media images, advertising and celebrity
culture. If there is a weight concern, help
your teen feel loved and good about
What is healthy eating for themselves while making small healthy
changes to eating and exercise for the
a teenager? long term. Talk with your doctor or
Teenagers have a healthy attitude toward food and eating if dietitian for ideas.
most of the time they eat when hungry, stop when full, and
don’t feel guilty about eating. Skipping meals, restricting What parents can do
intake and overeating are only problematic if your teen does There are many ways parents can support young people
these things often or if they become a pattern. to develop a healthy relationship with food and a positive
It is usual for teens to: body image. The most important thing is to be a good
eat different amounts on different days, to eat more role model. Be happy with your body, avoid diets and
of the foods they like and less of what they don’t like, don’t make negative comments about your own or
and to either overeat or limit food intake at times others’ weight or looks. Young people are good at
eat more when having a ‘growth spurt’ and then sensing a double standard.
cut back or return to their usual way of eating when Build a strong relationship with
things settle down again your teen
try new ways of eating, such as becoming vegetarian. Starting early, build a strong relationship with your
When experimenting with different ways of eating, it teen which will make it easier to talk about sensitive
is important your teen learns how to create a balanced things. Understand that boys might find it harder
diet with all the nutrients they need for this critical to talk about struggles with food and body image
time of growth and development. A dietitian can help because it is often seen as a girls’ issue. They also
with designing a balanced diet. experience pressure to be tough and in control.
What about dieting? Know what stresses your teen and help them find
ways to reduce the impact.
Dieting is so common it can be seen as a normal part of Listen to their opinions and try to accept they may
eating. However, dieting should be discouraged because have different views from yours. Don’t get into power
it is rarely successful and usually leads to weight gain in struggles - nobody wins. This includes avoiding battles
the longer term. around food.
Provide healthy food Value things other than looks in your teen. Focus on
Instead of naming foods ‘good’ or ‘bad’ which what their body can do rather than what it looks like.
reinforces diet thinking, use terms such as ‘everyday Comment on their qualities and skills rather than their
foods’ for things like fruit and vegetables that are appearance. Let them know you love them just as
healthy and nutritious, and ‘sometimes food’ for they are and never tease them about their looks.
things like chips, biscuits, lollies or sugary drinks. When they use social media, encourage them to post
Provide a range of healthy ‘everyday foods’ and let constructive comments that support their friends for
your teen decide what and how much of them to eat. who they are, not what they look like.
Buy ‘sometimes foods’ for special occasions rather If your teen or one of their friends is being bullied,
than keeping them in the house. including about their appearance, make sure they
Don’t link food choices to feelings of guilt. When you know to discuss this with you or another trusted adult.
eat ‘sometimes’ foods, be clear that you are choosing You can help them work out what steps to take (see
to do this and then return to your ‘everyday’ healthy Parent Easy Guides ‘Cyber safety’, ‘Bullying’).
food choices. Encourage physical activity
Create heathy eating habits in Physical activity contributes to good mental health,
your family good self-esteem and a positive attitude towards
Build a positive attitude to food and healthy eating the body. Encourage your teen to be involved in
in your family. Encourage healthy eating as a normal physical activity for fun as well as fitness. However,
and enjoyable part of life. it is important to make sure they have a balanced
approach to physical activity. There can be an
Share meals together as often as you can. Turn TVs, increased risk of body dissatisfaction and eating
phones and other screens off so you can focus on disorders for people involved in competitive physical
talking and connecting as a family. activity, eg sports, fitness and dance.
Build positive body image and Share the kitchen
self-esteem When young people leave home, many have limited
Encourage your teen to view their body changes as cooking skills or experience of meal planning and wise
a normal and positive part of growing up. Support food shopping. This can lead to eating fast foods which
them to accept their own unique shape and size and are often high in fat and sugar. Help teens become
to resist the pressure to fit the ‘thin stereotype’, or the more responsible and skilled in the kitchen. Expect both
‘built’ muscle-bound stereotype for boys. sons and daughters to help cook meals. Suggest they
Help them see the tricks and tools that advertisers plan, shop for and make a meal of their own choice for
use to create unrealistic images, eg digital airbrushing everyone, even if it’s only one meal a week.
and photo editing. It can be fun to play ‘Spot the
Photoshop’ and see who can find the most digital Parents are still the most important
enhancements. In regard to social media, help them influence in young people’s lives. You
understand that most people put up images of an have the power to help shape their
‘ideal self’. Many phones have built-in filters and values, attitudes and behaviour.
special effects that can make even the worst selfie
look good.
When eating and body If you are concerned, talk with your
image become a problem teen about what’s going on in their life
as soon as you can. Help them deal
Signs to look out for with the feelings behind the eating
It can be hard to tell what is ‘normal’ eating when your pattern. Talk to your doctor or a
teenager is making lots of changes and experimenting counsellor if you need support.
with different choices. When you know your teen well
it is easier to notice changes in the way they eat. A Eating disorders
problem can emerge if they develop a pattern of poor
eating that continues for a long time, or has a negative Eating disorders can develop when people are intensely
effect on their life. worried about losing control of their eating and becoming
You might also notice the following changes: overweight. They can develop distorted thinking and
feelings about food and their body, resulting in unhealthy
Emotional and social eating and often extreme exercise habits. Eating disorders
not being as happy as usual can happen in people of any age but studies show young
people are more at risk. Eating disorders are serious
not wanting to mix with friends or family mental illnesses that can involve other conditions such as
being moody, less confident or unmotivated anxiety disorders or harmful substance use.
doing poorly at school Eating disorders include:
sleeping a lot Anorexia Nervosa – when the young person restricts
Behaviour food intake to the point of becoming dangerously thin.
restricting the amount or types of food eaten They may restrict certain food groups, become obsessed
with counting calories or have rigid thinking and rules
being obsessed with counting calories around food. They often see themselves as overweight
making up rules about how to eat, such as eating despite being very underweight. They can develop
food in a certain order, or no food after 6pm serious health problems and may end up in hospital.
frequent dieting Bulimia Nervosa – when the young person eats very
binge eating large amounts of food in a short space of time and
secrecy around eating, including eating in private or then makes themselves vomit, takes laxatives or does
avoiding meals with others excessive exercise to avoid weight gain. Their weight
can be in the normal range, making it harder to
always weighing themselves or looking in the mirror notice they may have an eating disorder.
comparing themselves to others or frequently asking Binge Eating Disorder (BED) – when the young
if they look fat person’s eating becomes out of control at times. They
exercising to extreme, even if injured or sick. Boys in eat very large amounts in a short period but don’t
particular may become obsessed with body building, vomit, purge or exercise to ‘work it off’. BED can lead
weight lifting or muscle toning and get anxious about to health problems such as obesity, diabetes, high
missing workouts blood pressure and heart disease.
vomiting after meals or using laxatives a lot. Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED)
- the young person has disturbed eating, an intense
fear of gaining weight as well as body image problems.
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