The Challenge

Adolescence and being female are inherent risks for negative body image.

Body Image can affect:

• Self-esteem levels: Self-esteem dictates how a person feels about themselves and infiltrates every aspect of that person’s life. Higher self-esteem leads to higher levels of happiness and fulfillment.

• Self-acceptance: Self-acceptance refers to a person’s ability to accept all their attributes, allowing them to embrace all parts of themselves and to be impacted less by media images and societal pressures.

• Focus on outward appearance: Being hyper-focus on outward appearance can increase risk for anxiety, insecure attachment, and eating disorders. Reducing this focus increases both self-esteem and self-acceptance.

• Increase Risk for Eating Disorders: Research has shown that negative body image leads to body dissatisfaction which, in turn, is a known risk factor for eating disorder onset. And eating disorders are the second deadliest mental health illness for adolescents.