Education Section: Part 2
What can schools and youth groups do to promote positive body image?
Promoting positive body image
What age should we start?
Young children’s body image begins to develop early alongside the growth of their physical, cognitive and social abilities, even infants have a general sense of their bodies. Research indicates that body image and social norms around size and appearance are learned very young, around preschool age. Negative body image can have significant implications for a person’s emotional and physical well-being. Research links body dissatisfaction with critical mental health problems including eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression.
Body image and self-esteem are intimately linked and can impact significantly on mental health and development. It is therefore vital that we support children to develop a healthy body image and self-esteem from an early age to enable them to flourish in these areas.
What can schools and youth groups do to respond to this issue?
The research clearly indicates that young people consider body image to be a significant factor contributing to their overall well-being. If we are to respond to youth mental health in a proactive way, we need to tackle body image as a key issue and endeavour to promote positive body image and self-esteem at all stages in our education system.
How can schools and youth groups do this?
By taking a collaborative approach to promoting positive body image which includes schools, teachers, youth workers, parents, clubs, organisations, and really listening to what young people have to say.
By having a real, honest discussion about body image to reduce any stigma and shame associated with this topic, giving young people opportunities to voice their concerns.
By signing up to become a ‘Be Body Positive’ school or youth group and working together to promote positive body image in young people. This is a way for schools, clubs and societies to clearly show their support and to work with young people and the wider community to tackle this issue.
Acknowledging and treating body image as an issue that is worthy of attention is a necessary step in enabling young people to come forward and speak openly about body image in a constructive, positive and healthy way.
What can schools and youth groups do to promote positive body image?
Body image concerns are so widespread in adolescent years that, in some ways, they have become somewhat normalised and accepted as a part of teenage life. The implications of negative body image however, can have a grave impact on a child or young person’s life and mental health.
Young people today are inundated with messages about how they should look. This growing focus on appearance is unhealthy and can be damaging to a young person’s development and self-esteem. It is important that as educators, we endeavour to take steps to promote positive health and well-being within schools and youth groups and work with parents to provide supports for young people as they deal with these challenges.
Schools and youth group settings are ideal places to promote healthy body image, media literacy and to support families in promoting positive body image at home. The ‘Be Body Positive’ initiative for schools and youth groups gives a clear framework for schools and youth groups to support their work in promoting positive body image in their school or organisation and wider community. If you are interested in finding out more about the ‘Be Body Positive’ initiative please contact info@bodywhys.ie for an information pack.