Today's ultra-thin body ideal, created and encouraged by the media and fashion industry, can cause even the healthiest girls to dislike their bodies. In a special article on the WebMD website, freelance health writer Heather Hatfield interviewed several body image experts who offered practical tips for feeling good about your body.

"...the problem with the cultural norm in America is that human beings aren't meant to be one size or one shape. 'The research on body diversity is conclusive: Even if we all ate the same optimal, wholesome diet and exercised to the same high degree of physical fitness, we would still be very diverse in our shapes,' says [Kathy] Kater [a psychotherapist in St. Paul, Minn.]..."

The panel of experts suggested that people who struggle with their body image need to find a peer group that's encouraging. If you hang out with people who continually complain about their (or worse yet, your) body, find some people with healthier mindsets. Source: WebMD

Labels: body_image, influences, positive_messages

DDB Canada's Vancouver office has developed a multimedia campaign to raise awareness about the seriousness of eating disorders. Developed for The Looking Glass Foundation, the campaign includes public service announcements designed for television, radio, print, and online.

"The campaign tag line, 'Not every suicide note looks like a suicide note' refers to the insight that seemingly innocuous behaviors could be signs someone is suffering from an eating disorder that could kill them...Because of the seriousness of the disorder and the fact that many people do not take it seriously, DDB wanted to introduce an element of shock value into the campaign using real-life stories."

DDB's associate creative director and its copywriter conducted extensive research on eating disorders, including interviews with several victims and their families. All of the ads include a call to action, and direct people to The Looking Glass Foundation for additional information Source: >Marketing magazine

Labels: awareness, media_influences, positive_messages, pro-ana

Body image is a difficult issue for a lot of people , but Drs. Mike Roizen and Mehmet Oz believe they've found a way to improve poor self-images. Look in the mirror, they advise - but instead of saying or thinking something negative, focus on a physical feature that you like.

"It's not just wishful thinking: Changing the words can actually change the negative feeling behind them. In fact, just three sessions of this 'mirror exposure therapy' worked better than professional counseling in improving a group of women's self-esteem, body image concerns and even depression."

Another tactic that works well is weightlifting. Women who completed a 12-week weightlifting program reported feeling more confident about and satisfied with their bodies, regardless of whether they lost weight as a result of the sessions. Source: Seattle Post-Intellingencer

Labels: body_image, feelings, positive_messages

Poor body image is one of the leading contributors to the development of eating disorders. Most medical and mental health experts agree that if a girl can develop a healthy, positive body image, she's far less likely to struggle with disordered eating.

"Try these easy tips so you can start feeling more self-assured today. 1. Lose your obsession with the numbers. Keep track of improvement beyond losing weight, advises Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., professor of sociology at the University of Washington in Seattle. Says Schwartz: 'Zero in on how strong you feel. It will help you gain an appreciation for what your body can do.'"

Other tips include "spend time outdoors" and "help others in need". These simple steps can help someone start feeling better and develop a more health sense of self. Read more at Shape.com.

Labels: body_image, positive_messages, self-esteem

Teens today are inundated with messages about the "right" kinds of clothes they should wear and the "right" kinds of bodies they should have when wearing them. These messages, combined with other factors, begin damaging a child's body image at an early age. A teaching curriculum titled Healthy Body Image has been developed to help counteract some of these negative influences.

"As before, carefully planned, engaging, age appropriate, cross-curricular lessons based on widely recognized prevention principles teach students to develop an identity based on inner strengths, not on appearance, understand normal weight gain during puberty, think critically about media messages..."

The curriculum is recommended by the U.S. Department of Health. The table of contents can be reviewed, and the curriculum purchased online.

ByParents-forParents offers help for parents of troubled teens.

Labels: body_image, influences, positive_messages