November 1St Presentation
Guest Speaker: Shirley Barton
Topic: Teens and Body Image
Father Michael Goetz Catholic Secondary School
School Council
Resource Center
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
How Body Image Affects Teens
Teens compare themselves to others of the same gender and absorb information from the culture they are part of. A negative body image can create in teens dissatisfaction with their bodies and low self esteem. A positive body image creates healthy self esteem: Teens feel good about themselves and look forward to life.
The Role of Parents in Body Image of their teens
Parents influence how their teens perceive their body. If parents are focused on either their bodies or their kids’ bodies, the kids can see this as being important. There is sufficient research that shows girl and boy teens internalize the body image they got from the parent through identifying with both or one of them.
How parents can facilitate a healthy body image in teens
- It is ok to look different from everyone else.
- Focus on positive things in your teen’s life and less on their appearance.
- Encourage being healthy in their bodies; eating healthy and exercising, not trying to reach an unrealistic ideal.
- Accept their genetic ‘blueprint’.
- Embrace their look as unique to themselves.
- Find ways to help them develop talents, gifts and abilities.
- Set an example by challenging the ‘popular’ notion of beauty in magazine, movies and TV.
- Accept that there are things that can not be changes no matter how much they desire it to be different.
Websites on Body Image:
www.mediawatchyouth.ca
www.media-awareness.ca
www.region.peel.on.ca/health/commhlth/bodying/media.htm
www.body-positive.com
www.aboutfaceinternational.org
(posted on Feb 10, 2011)