The damaging effect of social media filters is rarely taught in schools.
The traditional assumption that eating disorders primarily affect affluent white women has led to stigma, stereotyping and misunderstanding.
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Eating disorders in teens are common and dangerous, and parents and loved ones play a crucial role in helping to both identify concerning behaviors and promote healthy ones.
Those with body dysmorphic disorder often check themselves – and their perceived defects.
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About a quarter of those with body dysmorphic disorder attempt suicide or struggle with ideas of suicide. Fortunately, medication and therapy have proved highly effective at treating the disorder.
Societal pressures to maintain the ideal female body may be heightened during pregnancy.
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The author of a new book exploring the making of heroines throughout history asks whether Barbie can ever overcome her reputation as the plastic antithesis of feminist ideals.
Positive representations of higher-weight women exercising can counter the idealization of thin bodies that is common on social media, while cultivating health-promoting exercise behaviour.
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Social media content that positively represents body size, shape and weight diversity may help to address the negative psychological effects of ‘fitspiration’ that depicts narrow body standards.
Social media has helped to make these products more relatable.
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It’s estimated between 30-40% of men worry about their body image.
Behavioral science researchers have found that people tend to have more positive body self-images when they appreciate the body for what it can do – not just how it looks.
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For many, the pandemic has disrupted daily habits around eating and fitness – which makes it a prime time to shake up old assumptions about achieving an ideal body.
The idea of ‘disclaimer labels’ on altered images might curb women’s and girls’ struggle with body image is a false one - in fact, they may even make it worse.
More time spent on social media can leave young adults feeling worse about their bodies.
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Boys, LGBTQ youth and people with normal body mass index are often overlooked when it comes to recognizing eating disorders, a physician and psychotherapist explain.
New information Instagram makes teens feel worse about their bodies is an opportunity for parents to start a conversation with their children about their online lives, and encourage positive habits.
Instagram’s emphasis on filtered photos of bodies harms girls’ self-image.
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