Denverpost.com just recently posted an article about the desire of teenage girls striving to obtain the “thigh gap”. Models are using social media to maintain a following of young women wanting to obtain the “perfect” body. The media (social media, TV, music videos, movies, video games and magazines) often uses altered photos to promote unrealistic body images. What kind of message are we sending our teenagers?
A lot of money is spent researching the best way to advertise to target audiences such as teens. Some researchers are saying that teen advertising has a negative impact on their self image.
It is natural for teenagers to struggle with their identity as they mature and become young adults. It is not healthy for teens to obsess over unrealistic and unattainable body images.
Twenty years ago a model weighed about 8% less than the average woman. Today the average model weighs about 23% less than the average woman. Only 5% of the population meets this media portrayal of being thin today. This is a good example of an unrealistic and unattainable body image.
Body image does not only affect young women; it affects young men as well. The media portrays young men as muscular, physically strong or powerful, dominating, having a rebellious attitude and attractive with pimple free skin. Young men in the media often are doing something athletic, sexy, dangerous or physically challenging as well.
Teenage boys feel pressured to look and behave like the media portrays and tend to be obsessed with exercise, have eating disorders, abuse steroids, supplements or diet aids. Teenage boys also tend to experience depression, anxiety and anger because they feel they do not measure up to image of the ideal man. Companies that sell supplements target these teenage boys with their products.
Some interesting statistics from Dosomething.com:
- Among high school students, 44% of girls and 15% of guys are attempting to lose weight.
- Over 70% of girls age 15 to 17 avoid normal daily activities, such as attending school, when they feel bad about their looks.
- Over 40% of boys in middle school and high school regularly exercise with the goal of increasing muscle mass.
- 75% of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities like cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking, or disordered eating. This compares to 25% of girls with high self-esteem.
- About 20% of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood.
- 38% of boys in middle school and high school reported using protein supplements and nearly 6% admitted to experimenting with steroids.
- 7 in 10 girls believe that they are not good enough or don’t measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with friends and family members.
Building a positive self image takes time and reinforcement from parents and friends. Low self esteem can lead to depression and other problems.
Keep the lines of communication open with your teenager. Offer praise for tasks well done and for dedication, loyalty and effort. Outward appearance is BIG for teenagers. Let them know who they are is also important.
Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_teen_advertising_on_body_image
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22962958/thigh-gap-whats-behind-dangerous-teen-body-image
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/health/teenage-boys-worried-about-body-image-take-risks.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-teens-and-self-esteem
