Body+Image



I'm fat. I'm too skinny. I'd be happy if I were taller, shorter, had curly hair, straight hair, a smaller nose, bigger muscles, longer legs. Do any of these statements sound familiar? Are you used to putting yourself down? If so, you're not alone. As a teen, you're going through a ton of changes in your body. And as your body changes, so does your image of yourself. Lots of people have trouble adjusting, and this can affect their self-esteem.

=Rate of Eating Disorders in Kids Keeps Rising=

Anorexia and bulimia showing up more often in boys, minorities, experts report
An analysis by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that hospitalizations for eating disorders jumped by 119 percent for kids younger than 12. At the same time as severe cases of anorexia and bulimia have risen, so too have "partial-syndrome" eating disorders -- young people who have some, but not all, of the symptoms of an eating disorder. Athletes, including gymnasts and wrestlers, and performers, including dancers and models, may be particularly at risk, according to the report.

What is your take on this "partial-syndrome" eating disorder? and should we be concerned?
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Photoshop and Retouching - Just Unrealistic!
Rachael Leigh Cook is angry about how magazines Photoshop images of celebrities, and she talked about the impact of unrealistic images on young girls last week at at the at the Healthy Media for Youth Summit in DC.

//"Nothing that you see is real, even if you look at what looks like a candid photo of someone, anything can be done. It is false advertising and false advertising is a crime so why isn't this a crime? I'm just up in arms about it. People need to know that there are actual lenses that are put on cameras that make people stretched out."//

What Is your opinion on photo retouching? check out these retouched celebs
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Michelle Obama partners with Disney - Do PSAs Work?
The first lady has joined the " Disney Magic of Healthy Living " campaign, which complements her own efforts against childhood obesity, and will appear in PSAs discussing healthy activities alongside Nick Jonas.

"I am thrilled to join Disney's 'Magic of Healthy Living' effort and support the work these young people are doing to reach out to their peers and communicate this powerful message," Mrs. Obama, who shoots hoops and gardens in the PSAs, said in a press release.

But do Public Service Announcements (PSAs) like this really get teens to sit up and listen?
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What are some HEALTHY ways to regulate your body that you would recommend to others? and what should be avoided?
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[[image:boy_on_scale.jpg width="149" height="239" align="left"]]Diets and Weight Gain? A Growing Issue for BOTH Males and Females
A recent survey showed that fully 41% of males, and 65% of females were dissatisfied with their weight. It has also been suggested that certain male subcultures that emphasize slimness and weight loss may promote body dissatisfaction, and thus put males at increased risk for eating disorders.

Male athletes striving to maintain weight standards have been examined for a potentially higher prevalence of bulimia. Studies with high school students indicate that the chief male concern at that age is to gain weight, size, and strength. Consequently, males at that age often perceive themselves as underweight or too thin. It may be assumed that boys who want to gain weight are less interested in gaining weight, per se, than in becoming more muscular and equate muscularity with added weight.

What advice do you have out there for others' struggling with their body image?
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Today it seems that teens are obsessed with image? Do you think the word "obsessed" is correct?
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How do you think the media influences your body image?
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Did you know that celebrities have their very own photo-retouchers that they pay to make them look good? Check out this video clip on how easy it is to manipulate not only photographs, but our minds as to what is beautiful.



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