Body image research alarming

By SARA TEMPLETON

A new study released in the well-respected American Journal of Health Behaviour documents new research that suggests poor body image contributes to a range dangerous health issues.

Poor body image is best described - and this is an example - by a 60kg person seeing themselves as too heavy, or wanting to be, for instance, 10kg lighter.

The new study suggests that High School girls view themselves as 5kg over their perceived ideal bodyweight, on average, which can then lead to potentially dangerous issues such as substance abuse, low self-esteem, poor eating habits and excessive dieting and even mental health issues.

A recent report in the Adelaide Advertiser quoted Michael Peterson, who is from the University of Delaware and helped compile the study: "The adolescent infatuation with the cultural icon of thinness has contributed to an array of unhealthy behaviours."

215 high school students were asked what body shape most matched that of their own, and then they were asked what their ideal body shape was.

On average, the males interviewed had similar projections of their ideal body shape compared to their actual body shape, while the girls viewed themselves as 5kg over their ideal body weight.

"Males' current and ideal body image perceptions were almost identical," explained Mr Peterson. "In contrast, females tended to overestimate their body size, so they pursue an ideal much slimmer than their perceived current one and so feel dissatisfied."

Some of the reasons behind the female students' perception of the 'ideal' body size inlcude overestimating their current body size and the constant 'skinny girl' bombardment seen in the media, which again can be related to the former reasoin.

Whether it's on TV, magazines or computer games, young women today face massive pressure to conform to what are generally unrealistic and often unhealthy body sizes.

This new study sheds light on the effect that mass media and the 'beautiful people' have on school girls and young women, who feel as though they need to measure up to what are often unachievable and dangerous body sizes.

This new study will help highlight the fact that many school girls are under intense pressure that can sometimes lead to devastating side-effects, such as low self-esteem, poor eating habits, excessive dieting and mental health issues, and will hopefully lead to a happier and healthier schooling environment.