A survey by the Mental Health Foundation in 2019, revealed that 31% of the 13-19 year olds surveyed felt ashamed in relation to their body image and that 37% worried often or everyday about their body image. The mental health charity Young Minds defines body image as how we see and feel about our body, and how we think others see us. Unsurprisingly, social media has been identified as a factor in the concern amongst teenagers about their body image, with 40% of those surveyed stating that images posted on social media caused them to worry about their body image. Social media is awash with images of people that have been photoshopped, which adds pressure for young people to achieve what they consider to be the “perfect” look. To combat this, a number of influencers online post body positivity content to challenge the stereotypical images of “perfection” that teenagers see. US rugby player Ilona Maher, is the most followed rugby union player in the world with over eight million followers across social media and has been praised for promoting body positivity. Maher has faced negative responses online due to her athletic physique with comments questioning her femininity. However, Maher has responded on social media saying that “all body types matter,” “all body types are worthy” and that “all body types can be Olympians.” Maher is seen as an inspiration to young girls by challenging the stereotypical images of a young woman. Last month, she signed for the Bristol Bears rugby team which has raised her profile further in this country and her message of body positivity.   

Boys are also impacted by body image issues with 25% of those surveyed for the Mental Health Foundation stating that they worried about their body image either often or always. One of the pressures for boys is to look big and muscular, a stereotypical image of masculinity. Experts have seen a rise in a condition amongst boys called “bigorexia” when young boys and men have a distorted self-image and think that they are not big enough, which leads to an obsession with muscle definition and body shape.   

There are a number of organisations where young people can access support. Childline gives useful advice to young people by discussing the problems they face and how they can get support. How you look | Childline. Young people can use Childline’s support services up until the age of 19 and services include the 0800 1111 contact number and a 1-2-1 online chat service with a counsellor. Young Minds also offers a lot of support and advice on the topic of body image. Body image | Mental health support | YoungMinds. At Hazelwick School, we have two dedicated school counsellors to support our students and a mental health champion who runs whole school initiatives to help students maintain positive emotional wellbeing. In PSHE lessons, Year 7 students study the topic of body image in the summer term and the topic is also explored during Year 9 in the spring term as part of a unit of work on mental health.