Danielle+D.

=toc= =BODY IMAGE =

​ When you look in the mirror, the first emotion you feel is disgust. There are many things you hate when you see your reflection. Everytime you're in public, you're embarassed of the way you look. When you walk in a room, you're sure that everyone is whispering about your size and shape. If you can relate to any of the above statements, you may have a poor body image. If so, you are not alone. Many people suffer from a negative body image. Some simply have poor self-esteem. But often, a poor body image can lead to much more harm. As a society and as teens I think everyone should ask themselves, "How does a person cope with a negative body image?"

What is Body Image?
Body image is the way you feel about your physical appearance (Topic Overview: Body Image). A persons body image may be positive or negative. When someone has a positive body image, they have a realistic view of their size and shape and accepts the way they look. However, a person with a negative body image has a distorted perception and often is embarassed of their body or obsessed with the way they look. People with negative body image often suffer from low self-esteem and depression. When you have a poor body image, you are also at greater risk of developing an eating disorder (Topic Overview: Body). For more information about body image click [|here.]

Where Does Negative Body Image Begin?
Everyone knows Barbie. She is plastic, yet beautiful and has been an icon for girls everywhere. However, Barbie is not a realistic role model and has caused many women to take drastic measures to try and fit this persona. "Barbie is part of the message that it's better to be thin then not to be thin," says Dr. O. Wayne Wooley, co-director of the University of Cincinnati Medical School's eating disorder clinic. "But it's only one thing. If you took all the Barbies away, the very same message would be delivered in other ways" (Worsnop). One of those other ways is the media. Figures in the media may be causing girls to have unrealistic expectations about their bodies (Topic Overview: Body). Actresses and models have gotten thinner and thinner over the years, causing experts in the field of eating disorders to become concerned that the media may be sending the wrong message. However, home life is a main cause as well. Family and friends can influence your body in positive and negative ways with comments they may make (Body Image). For example, if a teenager is self-concious of his/her weight and their parents or siblings makes a comment about it, they may feel worse. Often, a comment made is misinterpreted to be negative, but sometimes teenagers feel degraded by their family. This may lead to a poor body image and a greater chance of developing an eating disorder. Lastly, a doctors health advice can be misinterpretted and affect how a woman sees herself and feels about her body (Body Image). Often, women feel that being super thin is the only way to be healthy. But no matter where the problem starts, the outcome is often even more harmful. Click [|here] for more information on body image and what causes a negative body image.

How Do Teens Cope With Negative Body Image?
There are many ways teens cope with their body image. Some of the ways to cope with your body image may help you and improve the way you see yourself. But other times, coping with a negative body image can lead to bad choices and harmful outcomes. The table below shows how teens may cope with their body image in both negative and positive ways. =Ways To Cope With Body Image =

(Body Image)
 * = Positive ||= Negative ||
 * = eating healthy ||= skipping meals or starving (anorexia) ||
 * = excersise daily ||= wanting to get rid of food you eat (bulimia) ||
 * = plenty of rest ||= eating distorted portions (binge eating) ||
 * = talk to a trusted adult ||= <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">using dietary drugs or harmful substances ||
 * = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">confide in a friend ||= <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">over excersising ||
 * = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">avoid stress ||= <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">setting unrealistic goals ||
 * = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">self-esteem boosters ||= <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">not getting enough rest & vitamins ||

**Body Image & Eating Disorders**
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Many teens who cope with their body image in a negative way develope an eating disorder. Eating disorders are long-term illnesses characterized by an obsession with food, diet, and body image issues (Topic Overview: Eating). Anorexia and [|bulimia] are the most common eating disorders and often stem from a poor body image. Many people believe that the only way to look good is being skinny. For more information on body image and eating disorders click [|here].

Moving Forward
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">After all the research I have done, I look at body image in a totally different way. Having a negative body image is truly a sickness but can be prevented. All teens should learn to feel good about themselves and the way they look. I think we all can help. If you have a friend who may have a negative body image, be encouraging and supportive. Body image starts at home. With the help and support of friends and family, everyone can be saved from this harmful fate.

For More Information....
On self-esteem, body image, and why they are important click [|here]. On body image and a book and curriculum click [|here].

Works Cited “Body Image.” Body Image. Web. 03 February 2010 [] "Topic Overview: Body Image." ProQuest LLC June 2009: n.pag. //SIRS Researcher.// Web. 03 February 2010 "Topic Overview: Eating Disorders." ProQuest LLC June 2009: n.pag. //SIRS Researcher.// Web. 03 February 2010. Worsnop, Richard L. "Eating Disorders." // CQ Researcher // 2.47 (1992): 1097-1120. // CQ Researcher //. Web. 4 Feb. 2010 []