over time, generally beginning in infancy. Perception
of body image among people can widely range from
very negative to very positive. Depending on age and
other factors, the degree of concern with body image
can also widely vary among an individual.
A person who has a poor body image perceives
their body as unattractive to others, while someone
with a good body image views their body as being
attractive to others. Body image is studied within the
area of psychoanalysis, which is a psychological
theory that involves mental functions of humans
both consciously and unconsciously.
Generally, within psychoanalytic study, body
image is not related to any objective measure (based
on facts) but is subjective (based on opinions and feel-
ings) in nature. Consequently, one’s opinion of their
own body image may or may not parallel how others
judge that person’s body image. For instance, people
judging a person may view that person as attractive,
however, that person may judge themselves as having
an unattractive body image. On the other hand, a
person may perceive their body image as attractive
but be judged unattractive by most people who come
in contact with the person.
Body image, especially with young people going
through puberty (a stage of physical and mental devel-
opment that begins sexual reproduction), can become
a problem especially when parents are overly con-
cerned with their children’s weights and appearances;
parents, especially mothers, are very self aware with
their own weights and appearance; other children use
excess pressure on their peers (fellow children) to look
or act a particular way; and mass media advertise-
ments and other such means that try to actively
imply a certain body look (such as, thin is an ideal
body image). Body image is also closely associated
with self-esteem, which is defined as the amount of
value and worthiness a person inwardly feels.
Older children and young adults are more con-
cerned about how other people view them than other
age groups, so are much more sensitive with body
image and vulnerable to external pressures. This can
affect their self-esteem as their body goes through dra-
matic changes from adolescence to adulthood (pub-
erty). Boys may be overly concerned with height when
seeing girls of their same age growing upward faster.
Girls may feel sensitive about their height, weight, or
other noticeable changes happening within their body.
Statistically, according to the National Eating
Disorders Association, 91% of young college womenSteps to help your child develop a positive body image- Make sure your child understands that weight gain is a normal part of
development, especially during puberty - Avoid negative statements about food, weight, and body size and shape
- Allow your child to make decisions about food, while making sure that
plenty of healthy and nutritious meals and snacks are available - Compliment your child on her or his efforts, talents, accomplishments,
and personal values - Restrict television viewing, and watch television with your child and
discuss the media images you see - Encourage your school to enact policies against size and sexual
discrimination, harassment, teasing, and name-calling; and support
the elimination of public weigh-ins and fat measurements - Keep the communication lines with your child open
SOURCE: National Women’s Health Information Center, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services
(Illustration by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)
KEY TERMS
Anorexia nervosa—A mental eating disorder that
features an extreme fear and obsession of becom-
ing overweight, which leads to extreme forms of
dieting even with incidences that result in sickness
and sometimes even death.
Binge eating disorder—A mental eating disorder
that features the consumption of large amounts of
food in short periods of time.
Body dysmorphic disorder—A mental disorder that
features a distorted or disturbed body image by the
subject who is very critical of their physical body
and body image even though no defect is easily
visible.
Bulimia—A mental eating disorder that is charac-
terized by periods of overeating followed with peri-
ods of undereating.
Narcissism—Excessive admiration of one’s self.
Objective—Based on facts.
Obsessive compulsive disorder—A mental disor-
der that is characterized by obsessive thoughts
and related compulsive activities that in the sub-
ject’s mind are attempts to counter and remove the
unusual thoughts.
Psychoanalysis—A psychological theory that con-
cerns the mental functions of humans both on the
conscious and unconscious levels.
Puberty—A stage of physiological maturity that
marks the start of being capable of sexual
reproduction.
Subjective—Based on feelings and opinions.Body image