Body image has become one of the major industries in the developed world and is one that impacts practically everyone. Studies of young women in the US suggest that “Seven in 10 (70%) aren't happy with their bodies, and 38% would get plastic surgery if they could afford it”¹ and the results of the pressure to conform to what are often manufactured ideals are well documented around the world as rates of both obesity and eating disorders sky-rocket. While most of us are aware that the images that we are presented with by the media are often digitally and/or cosmetically enhanced it can still be almost impossible not to feel some pressure to meet these impossible standards and while young women may be the most vulnerable to this pressure they are not the only ones affected.

Focus on a healthy balanced lifestyle, not weight or shape. People are naturally of different body types and its important to have a realistic expectation of what is right for your body type. The Body Mass Index has long been used as an indicator of people’s healthy weight, however it does have some limitations it cannot tell the difference between weight due to muscle (muscle is denser than fat and so weighs more), or differentiate between gender, age, body type or racial differences. Find out more about the Body Mass Index at Wikipedia or calculate your BMI at Everybody.

Work on your self-confidence with our guides on Goal-Setting, Makeovers, Fashion, Relaxation and Getting Fit. Pulse, our teens section, has a number of resources about body image print off this declaration of Freedom form a Weight-Obsessed World and stick it on your fridge and learn these 10 Steps On How to Turn Negative Thinking Into Positive Thinking.

1 SOURCE: Synovate, Ian Pierpoint, SVP of Synovate YC (Synovate's youth division), found in RDS Contemporary Women’s Issues
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