Eating disorders and self-image issues are often associated upper-middle-class white girls. But a documentary film "The Souls of Black Girls" exposes the same struggles among African American girls.

"[Filmmaker Daphne] Valerius said her own experience of growing up black and undergraduate research she did at St. John's University in New York were the foundation for her film. She wanted to examine who women of color reconcile their self-image with the images portrayed in today's media..."

As a teenager, Valerius aspired to be a dancer for people like Janet Jackson, but never felt she was pretty enough. In her documentary, Valerius explores the inner conflicts that many black women endure as they question what image and standard they should be attempting to achieve.
Source: The News-Tribune (WA)

Labels: body_image, self-esteem

The unrealistic standards of "beauty" that have been perpetuated by Hollywood and the media are part of what prompted Dove to create two programs: The Dove Self-Esteem Fund (DSEF) and the Campaign for Real Beauty. Dove's goal is to reach five million girls by 2010, and thus far the campaigns are almost halfway there.

"Through DSEF, Dove, along with the Girl Scouts of the USA, conduct self-esteem workshops and after school events for girls ages eight through 17. At these programs, girls participate in at least an hour-long educational program that teaches each of them about a positive self-image."

The workshops are partially funded through profits from the sale of Dove products. The Campaign for Real Beauty includes not only TV commercials, but on-line videos that show how images of models are manipulated to make them look "perfect". Source: The East Carolinian

Labels: media_influences, self-esteem, self-image_issues

A study out of Stockholm, Sweden, has found that new moms with histories of eating disorders had a much harder time adjusting to motherhood than did those with no history of eating disorders.

"Women with eating disorders were more likely to worry they may not be a good mother; did not feel proud of being a mother; and felt they no longer had enough time for themselves. The researchers also found this group much less likely to enjoy feeding and caring for their babies, and more likely to worry their child would turn out unhealthy or not normal."

Researchers compared levels of adjustment between 67 first-time moms without eating disorder histories and 44 first-time moms with histories of either anorexia or bulimia. Only 13 percent of the non-eating-disorder group struggled to adjust to motherhood, compared with 92 percent of those with histories of disordered eating. Source: Reuters

Labels: mothers, parents, self-esteem

Teens of normal weight who think they are too fat are less happy than are obese teens who think their weight is normal, according to a study of 7,000 German teenagers.

The researchers believe that anti-obesity campaigns may actually be harming normal weight teens by making them feel insecure and unhappy about their bodies, thus causing them to develop eating disorders.

About 55 percent of the girls and 36 percent of boys who were surveyed believed they were too fat, although only 18 percent were actually overweight. The teens of normal weight who thought they were too fat suffered from low self-esteem and an "enormously impaired quality of life," the study's authors wrote.

Among teens who were obese, 60.6 percent of girls and 32.2 percent of boys said they were "far too fat." Obese girls had the most health issues, such as elevations in blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. The girls also had more self-esteem issues than the boys did, although obese boys had the fewest number of friends compared to all groups.

The teens in the study who actually were obese reported a higher quality of life than did those who mistakenly saw themselves as fat.

This study appeared in the June 6, 2008, edition of Deutsches Aerzteblatt International.

Labels: body_image, self-esteem, self-image_issues

A study of 1,600 Scottish adolescent girls found that nearly half suffer from low self-esteem and think they are too fat. The University of Edinburgh study also concluded that four out of five girls do not exercise regularly because they are too embarrassed or lack confidence.

Girls' self-confidence levels tended to decrease between ages 11 and 16 years. Some of the Edinburgh researchers believe that girls are under too much pressure to emulate the "size zero" bodies of celebrities and prominent models

"What struck me is that girls report far lower levels of confidence and competence in physical activities than boys do," said Jo Inchley, assistant director of the University's Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit.

Labels: confidence, self-esteem, self-image_issues

Middle-schoolers in Santa Cruz, California recently learned something shocking; those picture-perfect images they see of models in magazines are "digitally enhanced". It's one of many lessons the group of girls is learning in an after-school class focused on teaching them the truth about the media while simultaneously helping them learn to eat healthy.

"The class seeks to boost girls' self-esteem and help them to make healthier choices. In addition to learning to critically examine media images of women, girls engaged in role-playing, art, discussions and yoga. They discussed healthy food choices and learned to distinguish when they were really hungry from when they were lonely or had some other need."

The class was developed at Harvard Medical School and is being called "one of the most promising and extensively researched eating disorder prevention programs..." Read more at SantaCruzSentinel.com.

Labels: education, media_influences, self-esteem

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

Near the tail-end of 2007, we started seeing an abundance of television commercials featuring an excited Valerie Bertinelli announcing that she was just three pounds short of realizing her goal to lose 40 pounds. On the surface it seems like the rallying cry that women are longing for: "you can lose the weight you want to lose", but columnist Connie Schultz also sees the negative impact it can have on countless girls and young women.

"For too many, every glance in the mirror triggers a default button of self-loathing. And that's what Bertinelli's corporate sponsor counts on each time it recruits another overweight actress to diet for public consumption... The message is always clear, whether it's through a celebrity, usually a female, or just another chunky stranger, also usually a female: She hates herself, and you should, too. But we can help."

Schultz goes on to say that many diet programs simply exploit the self-loathing that's often created, in part, by their ad campaigns and teach women to see themselves nothing more than a dress size.

Labels: dieting, media_influences, self-esteem

Websites that ask users to rate the attractiveness of pictures of participants may contribute to girls obsessing about their appearance, according to a study of adolescent females in Great Britain.

This summer the Schools Health Education Unit, a British research service associated with the University of Exeter, found that the biggest concern of girls ages 12 to 15 years old was their appearance. Half believe they needed to reduce their weight.

Researchers pointed to pressure from websites such as Myspace, Facebook, Assess My Breasts, and others that encourage girls to post pictures of themselves for strangers to rate on "attractiveness scales" of one to ten.

"There's so much pressure on young girls that many aspire to an ideal that is impossible for most of us to attain," said Dr. Natasha Bijlani. "They want to be famous, and some are so preoccupied by their looks that they miss out on academic opportunities, normal relationships, and veer dangerously towards eating disorders. When girls go online asking others to rate their looks and seek approval from people they have never met, the root cause is low self-esteem."

Labels: body_image, pressures, self-esteem

Some girls who struggle with eating disorders think that pro-anorexic sites help them feel better about their disorder and their obsession with weight and appearance. But investigators from the University of Missouri in Columbia have discovered that the opposite is true.

"After looking at the anorexia-promoting Web site, young women had worse moods, worse social self-esteem, and a worse sense of their ability to cope with their appearance than those who viewed one of the other two websites [on fashion and home décor]. They also thought of themselves as heavier and said they were more likely to exercise and think about their weight in the near future."

In light of these results, the study's authors suggest that parents closely monitor the websites their children view, consider blocking pro-anorexia websites and keeping a "family" computer in an open area of the house.

Struggling girls boarding schools, like Copper Canyon Academy in Arizona, offer a combination of therapy and academics to help teenage girls get back on track.

Labels: body_image, pro-ana, self-esteem

Though it's not officially considered an eating disorder, a new type of obsession with anorexia is becoming increasingly popular. It's been labeled "wannarexia" and refers to girls who want to have an eating disorder because they believe it will make them popular.

"While some experts say these girls likely have body image issues or could develop a more serious eating disorder, wannarexics usually range between healthy and overweight. They are often rejected by those with eating disorders for minimizing a serious illness."

The danger is that the desire to have an eating disorder can easily trigger disordered eating habits, which could lead to diagnosable anorexia - and all the issues that come with it. Because wannarexia is not an actual diagnosis it can be difficult to determine if someone truly has an eating disorder, or is just pretending. One primary difference is that wannarexics will derive some pleasure from losing weight, while an anorexic is never satisfied, no matter how much weight he or she loses. Read more at KARE11.com.

Unfortunately, some teens believe that using drugs will also make them more popular. Learn about the dangers of drugs and teens and how to help your child at Teen-Help-Directory.com.

Labels: body_image, influences, self-esteem

Women's magazine Redbook can be added to the ever-growing list of women's magazines that have been 'caught' re-touching celebrity photographs. The original, untouched photo of country singer Faith Hill appeared on the web site Jezebel.com, alongside the re-touched version that was used for Redbook's cover. It has reignited heated discussions and outcries about the unrealistic images portrayed in women's magazines.

"...experts say the Hill photo has struck a particular chord because the singer is already a beautiful, thin woman - calling into question the beauty industry's idea of 'perfection.' 'Do you know anyone who is female who wouldn't want to look like the real Faith Hill?' asks Michael Levine, professor of psychology at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. 'And yet looking like Faith Hill isn't enough for the [beauty] business.'"

Boston family therapist Carleton Kendrick says the biggest problem with these deceptive photos is the toll it takes on women and young girls, affecting their self-esteem and body image. Redbook explains away its actions by stating that a magazine cover is a 'beautiful image' much like an album cover or movie poster and that it's not supposed to be a real or accurate picture. But critics feel the statement is simply an excuse for continuing with business as usual. Read more online.

Adolescent substance abuse can often hide other, deeper emotional problems. Learn how to help your child at the Teen-Help-Directory.com.

Labels: body_image, media_influences, self-esteem

The San Francisco non-profit organization About-Face is determined to undo some of the damage that's being done by the ever-present images of ultra-thin, tan, blonde girls in the media and advertising campaigns.

"'We give them the tools they need in order to understand what they're seeing so that in a way they can start to inoculate themselves against any negative images that the media perpetuates,' says About-Face Executive Director Jennifer Berger, 'and there are plenty.'"

Rather than sitting around and talking about problems of self-image and eating disorders and the media's affects, the people at About-Face decided it was time to start doing something. This About-Face.org is creating two action-based groups that will create their own campaigns to speak out against negative messages in the media. Read more at SFGate.com.

Having a poor self-image can result in more than just an eating disorder. Kids with emotional and behavioral issues can benefit from Animal Assisted Therapy like Equine Therapy. Working with horses helps young people build their confidence and self-esteem. Learn more from Animal-AssistedTherapy.com.

Labels: body_image, media_influences, self-esteem

That's the advice Arlene Nugent gives to young girls who think they have to be super-thin to be beautiful. Nugent entered the Miss Northern Ireland beauty pageant in an attempt to "beat down the size zero craze..."

"'...I just want young girls to realize that beauty is all about how you feel about yourself, and that includes being healthy. If you feel comfortable and content with yourself then people can see that as well. I wouldn't change anything about myself. I like my size. I'm so happy and so content and I have never had any problems with it. I like to say to myself "Curves are hot... zero is not."'"

Though Arlene didn't win the pageant, she placed in the final five. She hopes the exposure she gained by entering the Miss Northern Ireland contest will lead to a career in modeling. Read more at BelfastTelegraph.co.uk.

Labels: media_influences, role_models, self-esteem

An estimated 165,000 people in the U.K. have eating disorders. Of those, an estimated 10% die as a result of their illness, but some experts believe that percentage could be even higher.

"The emphasis on super-thin models has been blamed for the increase in eating disorders. Experts say that these can have an effect on how people perceive themselves, but the causes of eating disorders are usually more complex and are linked to general feelings of self-worth."

An estimated 5% of the girls in the U.K. are believed to have anorexia. Bulimia is thought to be three times more common. Read more online.

Outdoor therapy can help teens who don't respond to traditional therapy. Learn more about outdoor wilderness therapy at WildernessProgramsInfo.com.

Labels: body_image, death, self-esteem

Teens who like their bodies also like themselves, according to a new study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"For many teenagers, how they feel about their bodies and how they feel about themselves are nearly identical," Dr. Eliana Perrin, author of the study, said in her presentation at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting May 5.

Dr. Perrin surveyed 1000 students in seventh and eighth grade about issues like self-esteem, depression, self-perceived attractiveness, athleticism, media exposure, ethnic identification, and desire to lose weight. The only exception to the rule of "high body satisfaction is linked to high self-esteem" occurred among African-American boys, who seemed to be able to separate the two factors.

Teens with low self-esteem often lash out at family and authority figures in frustration with themselves. Learn more about troubled teens and find help for parents of troubled teens at ByParents-forParents.com.

Labels: body_image, depression, self-esteem

Many parents worry about the health of their children. Eating disorders and negative body images are becoming more common. There are steps that parents and other family members can take to help children build healthy self-esteem.

"Teach children that their self-worth is not related to how they look. Emphasize their talents and qualities. Don't focus on their physical appearance. Give children healthy choices, and teach them to make informed decisions about what they eat. Involve them in planning meals, shopping and cooking."

Though the steps may seem simple, they can be very effective in building a foundation for healthy eating and healthy self-image. Read more at NEDIC.ca.

Labels: body image, healthy eating, self-esteem