Despite efforts to educate the importance of healthy eating and active lifestyles, negative body image is a rising concern among teens in today’s society. Statistics show that almost 80% of the teenage girls studied in a recent survey fall within the healthy weight range, but only less than 50% saw their weight as "ideal". Body Image can be defined as the perception, both conscious and unconscious, of one's own body and physical dimensions (Disordered Eating). Negative body image is to have a negative perception of self. The question arises as to why negative body image is still prevalent among teens despite the encouragement of healthy living. This report will explore the reasons that cause this issue to be a rising concern. The research will
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Adolescence is a critical time in a person’s life, according to Erik Erikson, the founder of the psychosexual theory of development. This is when teens are faced with Identity vs. Role Confusion. Teens are attempting to establish their own identity and develop a sense of self. The images and messages presented in the media have a strong influence on how an adolescent girl views the world and her role in it. For example, Adolescents look to television, magazines, and movies to help them find and define their station and place in society (Naigle, Debbie). Furthermore, Adolescence is the time when teens go through many physical changes that are critical to their development. The media suggests to young women that an ideally perfect body should be androgynous in nature. This is shown through a remark made by a researcher on the current influence of media ‘‘Girls have strong bodies when they enter puberty. But these bodies often soften and spread out in a way that our culture calls fat. Just at the point that their bodies are becoming rounder, girls are told that thin is beautiful, even imperative. ’’ (Cipher. 55) In addition to this teens are at the point of their lives when they value social relationships and being accepted by a community. As an illustration ‘Their sense of personal identity and ability to interact socially is not yet developed. They look to the media to help them find meaning in their lives, rules for social interactions, and definitions of self’ (Naigle Debbie). Thus, the media gives a socially acceptable standard and if one falls within that category of perfection, then it portrays that they have achieved their purpose in their life. Therefore teens are most likely to be affected, because they haven’t reached the mental processes required to critically analyze and determine reasonable levels of realistic goals. They are more
Adolescence is a critical time in a person’s life, according to Erik Erikson, the founder of the psychosexual theory of development. This is when teens are faced with Identity vs. Role Confusion. Teens are attempting to establish their own identity and develop a sense of self. The images and messages presented in the media have a strong influence on how an adolescent girl views the world and her role in it. For example, Adolescents look to television, magazines, and movies to help them find and define their station and place in society (Naigle, Debbie). Furthermore, Adolescence is the time when teens go through many physical changes that are critical to their development. The media suggests to young women that an ideally perfect body should be androgynous in nature. This is shown through a remark made by a researcher on the current influence of media ‘‘Girls have strong bodies when they enter puberty. But these bodies often soften and spread out in a way that our culture calls fat. Just at the point that their bodies are becoming rounder, girls are told that thin is beautiful, even imperative. ’’ (Cipher. 55) In addition to this teens are at the point of their lives when they value social relationships and being accepted by a community. As an illustration ‘Their sense of personal identity and ability to interact socially is not yet developed. They look to the media to help them find meaning in their lives, rules for social interactions, and definitions of self’ (Naigle Debbie). Thus, the media gives a socially acceptable standard and if one falls within that category of perfection, then it portrays that they have achieved their purpose in their life. Therefore teens are most likely to be affected, because they haven’t reached the mental processes required to critically analyze and determine reasonable levels of realistic goals. They are more