When was the last time you heard a toddler say she couldn’t come out to play because she was having a bad hair day? How many young kids do you know who’ll refuse an ice-cream cone because they want to squeeze into their “skinny jeans”?
The truth is that we are not born with a body image. The way we feel about how we look is learned and influenced by family, friends and the media. It is also influenced—positively or negatively—by our race, our gender and the culture in which we are raised.
What is body image? Broadly defined, “body image” is the conception or picture a person has of his or her own body. There is clear evidence that negative body image is linked to serious health and emotional problems. People with poor body image are more likely to experience depression, disordered eating and anxiety disorders. They are also more likely to go to unhealthy lengths to change or alter their bodies and their appearance.