Body image is referred to as how a person views their own body in terms of attractiveness. Also, the concept of body image may include an individual’s feelings, emotions, or thoughts. However, many people question their body image based on the color of their skin, hair, weight, shape, or size of a particular part of their body. People have considered personal beauty a vital concept in society in different generations. Social media, society, and the internet affect how people perceive their body image. For instance, social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok may affect how people view their bodies. There are two types of images, including positive and negative body images. Positive body image involves accepting one’s body in terms of looks and what one can do. On the contrary, negative body image is when one feels ashamed, lacks confidence, and feels dissatisfied with their appearance. Young people experience body image issues often due to influence from social media or society. Therefore, young people experiencing negative body image may suffer from low self-esteem, mood swings, and disordered eating. According to different sources, this paper will analyze the causes and effects of body image pressures on young people. Also, the essay will provide possible measures that can help reduce negative body image among young people.
Social media and the internet greatly influence body image among young people. Through the internet, youth access various internet-based media content such as ideal models’ girls or muscular models’ boys. Specifically, youth tend to compare their body shape with their models on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, or Tik-Tok. Furthermore, there is a relationship between body dissatisfaction and mental health among the youth. For instance, young people with negative body image, such as obesity, are more vulnerable to mental health problems. Negative body image is associated with eating disorders because young people copy the models on social media platforms. Considering how social media has risen with over 3.6 billion users, it affects how young people view their bodies. Moreover, people tend to present the best version of themselves, negatively impacting young people dissatisfied with their body image (Franchina et al., 2018). However, social media can be a good platform for young people to develop and embrace a positive body image. For instance, social media can connect youth to form a community that advocates acceptance of one’s body image. If young people can examine a way to use social media positively, it may change how they view their bodies. Taking a break from social media or following an account that encourages a positive body can reduce the effect of body pressures among young people.
Although estimation of how comfortable children and young people are with their bodies varies, appearance is considered a significant concern. A survey conducted by Be Real found that 35% of young people aged 13-19 are worried about their body image. Moreover, 79% percent of those who participated in this survey said the look is important. In comparison, young girls are more affected by body image pressure than young boys. This survey shows that 46% of girls were considered to worry about their appearance compared to 25% of the boys. Even girls as young as six years old experience dissatisfaction based on their appearance. In the current society, body image pressure is the third concern to young people apart from unemployment and an unsuccessful education system. There are many risk-taking behaviors associated with body dissatisfaction among young people. Therefore, young people consider using steroids, body surgery, or changing their diet to achieve their body goals. Therefore, negative image influences young people into engaging in unhealthy behavior that directly harms their bodies. Unhealthy behaviors may include reduced physical activity and physical education because of body dissatisfaction (Voelker et al., 2015). Also, weight and body mass index is closely related to body dissatisfaction among the youth, especially for the greatly affected young people with obesity or overweight.
Social norms have influenced young people to believe beauty is when an individual has a model like a body, as seen in movies or advertisements. For instance, social norms are influenced by edited body images, modeling, weight loss advisements, and obesity prejudice. Society plays a significant role in the development and shaping the young people. Personal growth and interaction are dependent on the society and individuals are brought up in. therefore, how society views its members as far as body image is concerned affects many levels. However, there is variation in different societies on perceiving body image in terms of weight gain or weight loss. For example, a study by Sara shows the larger body size among Native American and Hispanic girls compared to their white counterparts (Cameron et al., 2018). Other body characteristics such as muscle and shape contribute to body dissatisfaction among male adolescents. In other cultures, such as China, face, hair and height are the major factors leading to body dissatisfaction. The theme of body shape, body size, and bone structure is among the most discussed concepts by girls and boys. Society has influenced adolescent boys into believing that a good body is when height and weight are proportionate. Therefore, if boys and girls perceive their bodies as “bad” due to obesity, they adopt unhealthy behaviors.
Peer pressure among young people is another factor that influences negative body image. Children grow differently due to genetic components; hence peers play a role in reinforcing what a perfect body looks like. A study shows 40% of young people have been influenced by their peers into doubting and worrying about their body image. Moreover, a study shows body image pressure results from friends’ influence. Therefore, body image can lead to bullying among young people, especially in schools (Paraskeva et al., 2019). According to research by UNICEF, more than 150 million school teenagers had experienced bullying in 2018. Weight is the key factor contributing to bullying among young people because children with larger body masses are often bullied than their thinner peers. A study conducted by Yi-Ching on grade seven students in the United States shows the effect of weight status on how students feel about their appearance (Yi-Ching et al., 2019). Hence, body dissatisfaction was considered the primary factor is leading to bullying among young people. Therefore, research suggests preventing bullying instead of discussing weight loss or weight maintenance. Avoiding weight status discussions among young people will improve their self-esteem and gain self-confidence about their bodies.
In conclusion, body image pressures have a more negative impact on youth because they affect young people’s mental health and well-being. Some of the effects associated with unhealthy body image include mood disorders, eating disorders, reduced self-esteem, self-harm risks, and relationship problems. Body image is perceived differently according to how people see themselves (perceptual), how people feel about their looks (affective), beliefs and personal thoughts (cognitive), and actions concerning personal look (behavioral). For instance, media is among the major factors contributing to teens’ negative and unhealthy body image. When scrolling through social media feeds, young people interact with different content involving fit models. Therefore, this creates pressure on young people who feel their bodies are out of shape compared to models. However, there are different ways through which can be helped to reduce pressure caused by unhealthy body image. For instance, seeking role models that advocate positive body image is crucial to regaining self-esteem among the youth. Also, talking about personal achievement rather than appearance is significant in reducing negative body image. Other strategies that promote healthy body image may include physical activity, healthy eating habits, and avoiding negative media messages.
Works Cited
Cameron, Nicole Ola, Adrienne Fayola Muldrow, and Whitney Stefani. “The weight of things: Understanding African American women’s perceptions of health, body image, and attractiveness.” Qualitative health research 28.8 (2018): 1242-1254.
Franchina, et al. “The influence of social media use on body image concerns.” International Journal of Psychoanalysis and Education 10.1 (2018): 5-14.
Paraskeva, Nicole, and Phillippa C. Diedrichs. “Body image, esteem, and dissatisfaction during childhood.” The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development (2019): 1-12.
Voelker, et al. “Weight status and body image perceptions in adolescents: current perspectives.” Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics 6 (2015): 149. https://dx.doi.org/10.2147%2FAHMT.S68344
Wu, Yi-Ching, Chung-Hsin Chiang, and Tsung-Chin Lee. “The Impact of Attachment on the Body Image and Self-Esteem in Senior High School Adolescence.” Jiaoyu Yu Xinli Yanjiu= Journal of Education & Psychology 42.3 (2019): 27-54.
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