Obsessed With Skinny
- InkSociety
- Jul 17, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 18, 2020
By Lianne Cha
Oxford Academy
“I just want to lose this much more fat.”
How many times have you looked into the mirror and wished for a slimmer, leaner body? Probably far too many times to count. Turns out, you’re not alone. Data from a poll by Ipsos [1] shows that 79% of Americans have felt dissatisfaction with their appearances. The percentage of dissatisfaction rises to 90% for women ages 25-34 and to 93.2% for women ages 35-44. [2] Being self-conscious about one’s body isn’t necessarily harmful; it can help people recognize underlying health issues such as overweight and obesity. However, a negative body image can lead to more severe issues including body dysmorphic disorder, various eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression.
"Our education system reinforces negative body image to children, fostering low self-esteem issues throughout their lifetimes."
Much of this negative body image results from environmental factors, such as social media and the fitness industry, which cause weight stigma. Weight stigma, also called fat-phobia, is stereotyping a person based on their weight. Examples can be seen in fat-shaming comments in popular TV shows as well as in some airlines where larger people are required to purchase two seats. Viviane Hoang, a student of Oxford Academy, explains, “I feel insecure through social media and in-person interactions about my body, although body positivity is publicized. I have a goal of what I want to look like, but I don’t look like what I want, so I feel insecure.”
One of the most overlooked triggers of negative body image is none other than school.
Our education system reinforces negative body image to children, fostering low self-esteem issues throughout their lifetimes. Physical Education classes assess children on their weight and body mass index (BMI), often punishing them by lowering their grades if they do not meet the standards. BMI should not be used against a child, as it isn’t a reliable measure of body fat since it doesn’t consider muscle mass, bone density, and genetic composition. [3] Because this stigmatization is so ingrained in our culture, it’s not obvious that our schools are, in fact, exacerbating the issue and indirectly contributing to the millions of people suffering from eating and body image disorders. Kenneth Yang, a high school senior at Fairmont Preparatory Academy, recalls, “In fourth grade, I remember feeling like I looked pregnant and lost weight to look better.”
The education system should not stigmatize weight and instead promote the acceptance of all body types and weights. By putting grades on children’s bodies, schools are ingraining a mentality that is obsessed with “skinny,” teaching children that they should look a certain way and affecting their images of themselves.
Citations:
Comentários