Your Body Image

Body Image

What is body image?

-The way you view yourself-Can be positive or negative

Factors That Influence Body Image

Body Weight• It’s NOT about the number

• Bodies come in all shapes and sizes

• A few extra pounds now will grow and change throughout your teen years

• Extra weight many times will turn into height later

• Too little weight now will usually catch up after getting taller stops

Body WeightIN REALITY…

• Most teens don’t need to gain or lose weight

• In fact, dieting can interfere with normal growth and development

Body WeightBenefits of a Healthy Weight

• Body works right

• No strain

• More energy

• Less risk of disease

• Better mood

Body Mass Index

What is your Body Mass Index?

Your BMI is a method for assessing your body size based on your height and weight

Body Mass Index• It is important to understand that the BMI

measurement is not perfect• It cannot take a person’s body build into

account (more muscular or stockier build may be labeled overweight even if they do not have a lot of body fat)

• During your teen years, your body is changing rapidly

• Your growth pattern may cause you to become overweight or underweight for a period of time

Eating Disorders

-Extreme eating behaviors that can lead to serious illness or death

-People who feel bad about themselves or are depressed are more likely to develop an eating disorder

Factors that Influence Eating Disorders

Anorexia• What is it?

• Self-Starvation• An eating disorder in which a strong fear of

weight gain leads people to starve themselves on purpose

• Eat so little that their bodies do not get the nutrients they need

Warning Signs of Anorexia

•Abnormal/extreme weight loss

•Intense fear of gaining weight

•Refusal to eat

•Non-stop dieting

•Excessive exercise

•Excessive facial/body hair

•Hair loss

•Sensitive to cold

What Can Happen if You Have Anorexia?

• Bones can become thin and brittle from lack of calcium

• Decrease in blood pressure and body temperature

• Starve to death• Death from heart failure, kidney

failure, or other medical complications

Bulimia• Binge and Purge

• An eating disorder in which a person repeatedly eats large amounts of food and then purges

• Purging may include vomiting, exercising excessively, or abusing laxatives/diet pills

Warning Signs of Bulimia• May often go to the bathroom after

eating a large meal to purge

• Swollen cheeks or broken blood vessels in eyes from vomiting

• Abuse medications, such as laxatives or diet pills, to help their bodies get rid of food

• Excessive exercise

What Can Happen if You Have Bulimia?

• Robs the body of nutrients• Damages the colon, liver, kidneys, and

heart• Rotten teeth • Stomach and esophagus damage• Severe dehydration• Death from heart failure, kidney failure, or

other medical complications

Binge Eating Disorder• What is it?

• Compulsive Overeating• An eating disorder in which a person

repeatedly eats too much food at one time• Compulsion=Something that you feel you

cannot control• In some cases, this disorder may be an

attempt to deal with depression

Warning Signs of Binge Eating• Eat even when not hungry

• Eat so much food they feel physically uncomfortable

• May hide food they plan to eat

• Eat alone

What Can Happen if You Have Binge Eating Disorder?

• Serious weight gain

• Heart Disease

• Diabetes

• Cancer

• Depression

• Low Self-Esteem

• Death from heart attack, stroke, diabetes, or other medical complications

Treatment

Ways to Help-Start by talking to your friend privately about what you've noticed

-If your friend opens up about what's going on, ask how you can help

-Find out as much as you can about eating disorders from reliable sources

-Try not to be too watchful of your friend's eating habits, food amounts, and choices

-Know your limits

-Focus on inner qualities

-Offer to go with your friend to a support group or be there when your friend talks to a counselor

-Remind your friend that you're there no matter what