Question

B. Discuss body image issues that can occur at this time(adolescents) in a person’s life and offer your opinion on the best way to address this.

Answer 1

Your body image is how and what you think and feel about your body. It includes the picture of your body that you have in your mind, which might or might not match your body’s actual shape and size.

A positive or healthy body image is feeling happy and satisfied with your body, as well as being comfortable with and accepting the way you look.

A negative or unhealthy body image is feeling unhappy with the way you look. People who feel like this often want to change their body size or shape.

Body image can change through your lifetime.

A healthy body image is important. When you feel good about your body, you’re more likely to have good self-esteem and mental health as well as a balanced attitude to eating and physical activity.

Your child’s body image is influenced by many factors.

These factors include family environment, ability or disability, the attitudes of peers, social media, cultural background and more.

Puberty is also a big influence. During puberty, your child’s body is going through lots of changes. But at the same time, fitting in and looking the same as other people becomes more important.

You have an influence on your child’s body image too. There’s a lot you can do to help your child develop a positive body image, including:

• talking and listening with your child
• focusing on your child as a whole person
• being a positive body image role model