Media and Body Image

Frequently Asked Questions Expand All

• How can the media make me feel bad about my body?

  Images of what the media portrays as “ideal” bodies are everywhere—on photo and video apps, in AI-generated images, online, in TV shows and movies, in commercials and other advertisements, and in video games. You may begin to believe that these images show what is normal.

  But the sizes and body types you see in the media are not normal. Only about 5 in 100 American women have the genetics to make it possible to look like these images, and 0 (yes, zero) in 100 people have the genetics to look like AI or photoshopped images. For most people, trying to look like these images is unhealthy. It can cause depression, eating disorders, and low self-esteem.

• If the bodies I see in the media aren’t normal, why does the media show them?

  Understanding how the media works is an important step in not letting these images control how you feel about yourself.

  When you see these kinds of images every day, it’s hard not to compare how you look with these images. You may not like what you see in the mirror and start looking for ways to “fix” yourself.

  Diets, makeup, and clothes promise to make you look more like the images you see in the media. Ads for these products are often designed to make you feel insecure. This is just a way to sell more products. It’s not the truth of how you should look.

• Why do TV characters who are supposed to be my age seem older or more mature than I am?

  Most of the actors that play teenagers in TV shows and movies are actually in their 20s. By hiring older actors, studios don’t have to worry about shorter working hours and on-set schooling for minors. So even though the characters are supposed to be your age, the actors are older than you in real life. Very few of them look like real teenagers.

• What should I do if people are making comments about my body that make me feel bad or uncomfortable?

  Sometimes friends and parents think they are helping when they make certain comments, but they aren’t. Often these comments can do more harm than good. You may need to change some things in your life to be healthy, but you don’t need to listen to everyone’s opinion about your body.

  Some people may also bully you about your body or make mean or insulting comments online. You may think that trying to change your body will stop the bullying, but many times it will just make your physical and mental health worse. The way your body looks is not a problem, the bullying behavior is the problem.

  Try responding to negative comments with these statements:

  • “It hurts my feelings when you make comments about my food/weight/body.”

  • “I know you mean well, but I’d appreciate it if you would keep those thoughts to yourself.”

  • “How nice. Thanks for sharing that.”

  • "Wow, that's rude."

  • “How would you feel if I said something like that to you? Your comments about my food/weight/body are not helpful.”

• What are the warning signs of an unhealthy body image?

  You may have an unhealthy body image if you:

  • View yourself only in terms of how you look

  • Compare how you look with people online

  • Use negative words to describe your body

  • Get depressed or sad about how you look

  • Constantly think about ways to improve your body or looks

• What is a healthy body weight?

  A healthy weight looks different for everyone. The most important thing, especially while you are still growing, is to balance the amount of muscle and fat that your body has. This helps keep your body strong, and lets you have the energy and ability to do all the things you want to do. Focusing on a specific weight, clothing size, or other number (including body mass index (BMI)) can be unhealthy.

• What is a healthy amount of exercise?

  Most teenagers should exercise for a total of 60 minutes on most days of the week. The activities you choose should be of moderate or vigorous intensity.

  Examples of moderate-intensity activities include:

  • brisk walking

  • dancing

  • bicycle riding

  • hiking

  Examples of vigorous-intensity activities include

  • running

  • swimming

  • jumping rope

  • field sports like soccer

  Exercise is good for your mind and your body. Staying active relieves stress, helps you sleep better, and can help ease depression and anxiety.

• Should I go on a diet?

  Many teenagers who think they should go on a diet are actually a normal, healthy weight. Even if you do decide to lose weight, you should be careful. Many diets can do more harm than good, especially while you are still growing.

  For example, you may have heard that you can lose weight quickly with a “crash” diet, but these diets are not meant to be permanent. You are more likely to gain back the weight you lose if you go on a crash diet than if you make long-term lifestyle changes.

  You can talk with your doctor about the best way to change your eating habits. Or you can visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website “MyPlate” (www.choosemyplate.gov) to help you plan a balanced diet.

• How can I tell if my eating habits are unhealthy?

  Teenagers who diet on their own may develop bad habits called disordered eating. These habits include:

  • Fasting (not eating at all or only eating during certain times)

  • Skipping meals

  • Only eating a few kinds of foods

  • Extreme dieting

  • Binge eating

  • Making yourself vomit

  • Using diuretics, laxatives, or stimulants

  Disordered eating occurs on a spectrum. When disordered eating becomes severe, it may be called an eating disorder.

• What is an eating disorder?

  An eating disorder is a medical and mental illness. If not treated, it can be life-threatening. People with eating disorders can be any weight. For example, it is possible to be a normal weight and still have an eating disorder.

  People with eating disorders are very critical of their bodies. Some eating disorders include the following:

  • Anorexia nervosa—A distorted body image leads a person to exercise or restrict food too much.

  • Bulimia nervosa—A person binges on food, then forces vomiting or overuses laxatives. They may also exercise too much.

  • Binge eating—A person binges on food but does not vomit.

• My body is changing as I get older. How do I know if these changes are normal?

  During puberty, your body changes.

  • You grow taller and parts of your body get wider.
  • You may get acne or pimples.
  • Your genitals change as well.

  These changes may cause you to wonder if your body looks “normal.” You may compare yourself with images you see online. You may even think about getting surgery to change parts of your body that you are not happy with. But it is important to remember that there is a wide range of normal when it comes to your body’s appearance. Things like breast and genital size vary from person to person. All of these differences are normal. If you are worried about these changes in your body, talk with your doctor.

• What can I do to feel better about my body and be more confident?

  The following may help you build confidence and maintain a healthy body image:

  • Be aware of how media affects the way you think about yourself. Understanding that the media’s standard of beauty is unrealistic can help you stop comparing yourself with something that is not real.

  • Pay attention to how long you spend on social media every day. Take breaks from it.

  • Understand that there is a wide range of normal body types.

  • Eat healthy, balanced meals, and exercise regularly. Treating your body well will help you feel stronger and happier.

  • Focus on what you can do, not how your body looks. Find role models who do the same.

  • Find friends who have similar values.

• Glossary

  Anorexia Nervosa: An eating disorder that causes a person to severely restrict food so they lose weight. People with this disorder fear weight gain and have a distorted body image.

  Body Mass Index (BMI): A number calculated from height and weight. BMI may be used to determine whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

  Bulimia Nervosa: An eating disorder that leads to food binging followed by forced vomiting or overuse of laxatives.

  Depression: Feelings of sadness that last for at least 2 weeks.

  Diuretics [dy-yuh-RET-iks]: Medications or substances that increase the production of urine.

  Genitals:The sexual or reproductive organs on the outside of the body.

  Laxatives: Products that are used to help empty the bowels.

  Puberty: The stage of life that leads to sexual maturity. It includes change in the external genitals, the appearance of pubic hair, and growth spurts.