Time to be real about body image.

Poor body image has a damaging impact on individual wellbeing with links to physical and mental health problems.

The harms resulting are more pronounced in young people but can be seen across all age groups.

This has been highlighted in a recent report produced by YouGov and the Mental Health Foundation. The report, Body Image: How We Think About Our Bodies, is based on data drawn from 4505 adults and 1118 teenagers from across the UK.

Findings include that 20% of the people questioned said they felt ashamed of their body and that 34% had felt unwell as a result.

This, respondents said, has led to feelings of anxiety (34%), depression (35%); 13% also said they had had suicidal thoughts.

The YMCA have also highlighted the issues around body image impacting on young people, particularly the influence exerted by social media.

Through their #bereal campaign they are attempting to promote positive body images.

A recent report published by the charity found that 61% of the young people spoken to felt uncomfortable with how they look, 67% said they had felt pressurised to ‘edit’ the images they put on social media.

The report was based on interviews with 2000 young people and produced in partnership with cosmetics company Dove.

Both charities are calling on the government to take urgent action on this issue.

The Mental Health Foundation want to see stronger regulations around how body image is portrayed in the media, with, for example, the Advertising Standards Agency pre-vetting adverts

The YMCA want to see more diverse body images used on social media and a greater role for positive influencers.

Denise Hatton, chief executive of the YMCA in England and Wales said, ‘ Young people and the population in general need to be conscious about the content they are posting online.’

She added that the YMCA were encouraging people to support their #bereal campaign to encourage young people to ‘be confident about how they look’.

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