Body Image “Mirror, Mirror”

Bellringer Write “Teen Unit”

Discussion What makes someone beautiful? What is the perfect body?

Body Image Where do we get our perception of what the perfect body is? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCxjUrNbIkI

Eating Disorders 8,000,000 people in the United States have diagnosed eating disorders 90% of people diagnosed with eating disorders are women

More Statistics 10% of U.S. girls and women are suffering from eating disorders 50,000 will die as a direct result Eating disorders and substance abuse have the highest mortality of all psychiatric disorders

What is body image? the mental image of one's own body.

Origins of Body Image We are not born with a body image. We learn it from family, peers, the press, movies, and television. Our culture reinforces only certain images.

Cosmetic Surgery “Cosmetic surgery is the fastest growing medical specialty. Throughout the 1980’s as women gained power, unprecedented numbers of them sought out and submitted to the knife.” Naomi Wolf Men are beginning to enter into cosmetic surgery with the same desire as women to fit the cultural norm.

Body Image Is: Mental Physical Emotional Perceptive Imaginative

Men’s Image Issues Glamorous “macho” figures: Tough Muscular Competitive Athletic

Media Influence Models Health and fashion magazine covers Computer doctored photos “Barbie” and Arnold Schwarzenegger Music-video queens and kings Movies, billboards, television http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA331SpzYy4

The Diet/Fitness Craze We are influenced through: Diet foods Diet commercials Diet centers Diet books “abs” and workout videos Health clubs Body size talk Fashion

The Media Influence Billions are spent on cosmetics, new diets, and clothes We are constantly trying to reshape and remake our bodies into the media image

Body Image Directly related to self-esteem Developed through interactions with others Reflects our mental picture of ourselves Contains our thoughts, feelings, judgments, sensations, awareness and behavior

You Can Develop a Healthy Body Image Listen to your body, and eat only when you are hungry. Be realistic about the size you are likely to be based on your genetics and environment.

Developing a Healthy Body Image 3. Exercise regularly doing something you enjoy. 4. Expect normal weekly and monthly changes in weight and shape. 5. Be gentle with yourself – work toward self- acceptance and forgiveness.

Developing a Healthy Body Image 6. Ask for encouragement from friends and family when life is stressful. 7. Make some life decisions about what is most important to you and pursue them.

What You Can Do Force yourself to look for your good points in the mirror Decide which of the cultural pressures prevent you from feeling good about yourself Exercise to feel good about yourself

Body Image Project Create collage/picture on what you think is the perfect body. Must include at least 10 pictures/words. Must describe why you choose each word.