This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Body Image Still Problem for Teen Girls
July 18, 2003 - In a world where beauty is an obsession, it's no wonder that many teenagers -- particularly girls -- see themselves as being too fat, according to a new study.
Research appearing in the July/August issue of the American Journal of Health Behavior goes on to say that teen girls tend to see themselves 11 pounds over their ideal weight. On the other hand, boys' perception of their current weight versus their ideal body image is about equal.
Body Image Linked to Unhealthy Behavior
The effect of poor body image can be far-reaching.
"The adolescent infatuation with the cultural icon of thinness has contributed to an array of unhealthy behaviors," says Michael Peterson, EdD, from the University of Delaware, in a news release from the Center for the Advancement of Health. These behaviors include:
- Poor eating patterns and extreme dieting
- Preoccupation with food and body image
- Lower self-esteem
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Overall physical and mental illness
The study looked at more than 200 high school students to find how teens determine their body image. The goal? They hope to use the information with intervention programs in the future.
Perception Versus Reality
Researchers showed the students a range of silhouettes based on body mass index (BMI) -- an indirect measure of body fat based on weight and height. They asked the volunteers to pick the silhouette that most closely matched their perception of their current appearance, select their ideal body image, then list their actual weight and height.
On average, the girls saw themselves as weighing more than their current weight, with a desire to lose weight.
Ironically, boys saw themselves as being heavier than they are but many had a desire to weigh even more. Perception was much closer to reality with the boys however. They actually weighed an average of 172 pounds, but perceived themselves as weighing 185 pounds, with their desired weight being 182 pounds.
Peterson says having this kind of analysis is invaluable in helping health professionals tackle poor teen body image at its source. He says he hopes they can further attack the problem and address questions teens may have, thereby helping them avoid risky behavior and reduce unhealthy side effects.
SOURCE: American Journal of Health Behavior, July/August 2003. News release, Center of the Advancement of Health.
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Uses of KAPIDEX
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