Healthy Body and Self Image:
Empowering your teen
Raise Your Hand If…
Facts and Statics
• 95% of people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12
and 25.
• Between 5 and 10 million women in the U.S. currently suffer from
eating disorders.
• Gear magazine reports that 1 in 6 cases of eating disorders
diagnosed are in men.
• Approximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies and
resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape.
• Only 5% of women naturally possess the body type often
portrayed by Americans in the media.
(www.dosomething.org)
The Progression
Men and Body Image
• The rate of eating disorders among college men ranges
from 4-10%.
• The prevalence of binge eating is the same among men
and women.
• Male body image concerns have dramatically increased
over the past three decades from 15% to 43% of men
being dissatisfied with their bodies.
• Men are often more concerned with a combination of
issues related to weight, body shape and strength.
• Men are less likely to seek help.
(NEDA, 2012)
Eating Disorders
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge Eating
Disorder/Compulsive
overeating
What are signs your
teen might need help?
(Mazzeo & Bulik, 2009)
Media Messages
Photoshop Disasters
What’s the difference?
Body Image:
Self Image:
– The way someone
perceives their body
and assumes others
perceive them.
– This image is often
affected by family,
friends, social pressure
and the media.
– The idea, conception,
or mental image one
has of oneself.
– A number of selfimpressions that have
built up over time,
they can be positive or
negative
(dosomething.org)
(www.mtstcil.org)
How can we empower our
teens?
“Empowerment is a multi-dimensional social
process that helps people gain control over
their own lives. It is a process that fosters
power in people, for use in their own lives,
their communities, and in their society”
(Page & Czuba, 1999)
Challenge: Fat Talk Free ®Week
Fat Talk Free® Week is an international, 5-day body activism
campaign to draw attention to body image issues and the
damaging impact of the 'thin ideal' on women and men in
society.
The Purpose:
•Educate others about the damaging impact of pursuing the thin
ideal and the use of fat talk on women of all ages
•Inspire change in the way we think and feel about our bodies
•Promote a healthy lifestyle and one that urges individuals to
live a balanced life in mind, body & spirit.
Thin Ideal vs. Healthy Ideal
Thin Ideal
•Implies that a certain look results in success, happiness, or
confidence
•It negates so many qualities that truly define who we are
Healthy Ideal
•This ideal come in all shapes and sizes and looks different for
everyone.
•It is a way of life achieved in mind, body and spirit.
•It places emphasis on relationships, nutrition, exercise and self
esteem to positively impact our body image and our confidence
•The Healthy Ideal doesn‘t include fat talk
When you change the conversation
with yourself, you will change the
conversation with others.
Resources
•
http://bi3d.tridelta.org/ourinitiatives/fattalkfreeweek
•
http://www.abundancetapestry.com/self-love-series-101-loving-yourself-quotes/
•
www.dosomething.org
•
www.mtstcil.org
•
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-males-and-eating-disorders
•
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719561/
•
http://eatingdisorderscoalition.org/documents/TalkingpointsEatingDisordersFactSheetU
pdated5-20-09.pdf
•
http://www.joe.org/joe/1999october/comm1.php