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

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

Joy Christiansen Erb is a photographer and installation artist whose latest project is now on display at the University of Rochester's (New York) Hartnett Gallery. Titled "Family Gathering: A Look into the World of Eating Disorders," the exhibit is intended to confront poor body image and related issues.

"The work examines the issues through the creation of 'a typical upper-middle class living room in the United States' within the gallery space. The installation will include, among other things, a Victorian sofa, an antique bookshelf and a wingback chair. Each piece of furniture has been adorned with photographic imagery and embroidered text culled from personal interviews between the artist, sufferers of eating disorders and their family members and friends."

The exhibit is open now and will remain open to the public through April 4, 2008. Read more at TheNewsStar.com.

Labels: acceptance, body_image, self-image_issues

Paul Nyhan, writer for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, made a different kind of New Year's Resolution this year. Instead of committing to put a few extra dollars in the savings account or spend less time at the office, Nyhan is determined to help his now-2-year-old daughter prepare for the media and culture onslaught that can result in a negative body image.

"Today, involved dads are entering unfamiliar territory, such as body-image anxiety. They want to help, but don't always know how, said Harvard Medical University researcher Dr. Nancy Etcoff. When Etcoff gives a speech these days, dads ask a lot of the questions."

Most dads want to help their daughters have healthy self-images, but they don't know what to do or say. Experts suggest that dads encourage interests outside of fashion and media outlets. Quality time with daughters is also key to helping developing healthy self-esteem.

Animal assisted therapy, like the program for troubled teens at Aspen Ranch, help teenagers deal with a variety of emotions and issues.

Labels: fathers, influences, self-image_issues

A study conducted recently in the UK determined that watching just 10 minutes of music videos with "scantily clad women" was enough to cause young women to feel dissatisfied with their own bodies. In the media, there's certainly no shortage of "ideal" bodies - both male and female, and since teens spend large portions of their time listening to music and watching videos, they're constantly inundated with these images. We could continue to fight against the media, but maybe there's a better approach.

"To date, despite significant efforts, we have not had demonstrable success in raising self-esteem, part of which is physical self-awareness. A more promising approach with demonstrable positive results is the teaching of coping skills - how to deal with the environment we find ourselves in, how to reduce self-blame when we do not match up with images thrust upon us, and how to be judicious in determining what is good and how that can be achieved."

Teens whose families are close and have open lines of communication, often handle on the media's portrayal of "the perfect body" better. Often, they also have a healthier self-image, and a better understanding and appreciation for who they are as individuals. Read more at TheAge.com.au.

Labels: body_image, media_influences, self-image_issues

The messages given by parents and peers are strong influencers in a young girl's self-image. Over the years, studies have found that, while the media does exert influence, the opinions of parents and other adolescents also affect a girl's opinion of her appearance.

"Pike & Rodin (1991) found that mothers whose daughters were eating disordered were themselves more eating disorders, and thought that their daughters should lose more weight than the mothers of non-eating disordered girls."

Family support of weight acceptance and appearance has been reported as an important factor in a girl's overall self-acceptance and self-esteem.

Read more at About-Face.org.

Labels: media_influences, parents, self-image_issues

During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week couple in February, a new novel about eating disorders went on sale. A Slice of Heaven was written by Sherryl Wood who, fortunately, has never suffered with an eating disorder, but learned to appreciate the complexities of eating disorders after speaking with specialists at The Childrens' Hospital in Denver.

"'This is not a problem to be ignored or wished away,' Woods said, 'especially with younger and younger girls developing self-image issues and resolving them with extreme eating behaviors such as anorexia or bulimia.'"

Go online to read more about Wood's book and visit the National Eating Disorders Awareness website for more information on symptoms, warning signs, consequences and treatment options.

Labels: awareness, children, self-image_issues