Stress and Body Image Module C: Lesson 2 Grade 11 Active, Healthy Lifestyles

Dealing with Stressful Situations Stress is the body’s normal physiological response to situations or stimuli perceived as “dangerous” to the body Reactions to stress can vary greatly Healthy lifestyle choices impact the ability to cope with stress and to manage day-to-day activities

Stressful Situations Identify some feelings and biological changes that stress can cause “Fight or flight” Write down responses to the following situations: – Situations That Make Me Angry – Situations That Make Me Frustrated – Situations That Make Me Worry – Situations That Make Me Happy – Situations That Take a Lot of Time – Situations That Take Money Discuss similarities, insights, or perceptions related to the ideas listed Positive stressors versus negative stressors. Identify appropriate and healthy strategies to cope with stressful situations

Stress Can Be Positive or Negative A certain level of stress is not a bad thing and can contribute to optimum performance. – too little stress = difficult to become self-motivated to perform well (boredom and not challenged) Excessive levels of stress can hamper performance and enjoyment – what is asked of us is beyond our perceived abilities – too much is asked of us in too short a space of time – unnecessary obstacles are put in the way of achieving our goals Negative stress – gets in the way of good judgement and fine motor control – causes competition to be seen as a threat, not a challenge – damages the positive frame of mind needed for high-quality competition by – promoting negative thinking – damaging self-confidence – narrowing attention – disrupting flow – consumes mental energy that could be devoted to focusing on effective technique Negative thinking Exercise is used as a primary stress-management strategy

Physiological Responses of Exercise Investigate the physiological responses of exercise (stress-reducing)

Wellness Inventory Complete the wellness survey What responses cause concern How can you improve

Body Image Linked to self-esteem and self-concept Shaped by past experiences (positive or negative) Boys and girls More complex than weight, height or muscle mass Not individual or optimal body size or weight but how you feel about your body and your life experiences

What Is Body Image? Formed at an early age Influenced by our parents, caregivers, peers and life experiences Relates to how you feel about your body and what you think your body look like to others Perspectives may not be objective Every body is different Ideal body weight is the weight that allows us to feel strong and energetic and lets us lead a healthy life

Common Body Image Questions Pick a question for group discussion

Canadian Statistics on Eating Disorders 27% of Ontario girls 12 to 18 years old are engaged in disordered food and weight behaviour Third most common chronic illness in adolescent girls Almost one in every two girls and almost one in every five boys in Grade 10 either was on a diet or wanted to lose weight

How Big Is the Body Image Problem? Increases the risk for extreme body/weight control behaviours Increased preoccupation with appearance and body dissatisfaction Increased risk for engaging in dangerous practices to control weight and size Can lead to more harmful behaviours Increased risk for developing disordered eating or an eating disorder.

Positive and Negative Body Image People with positive body image exhibit Self-confidence, energy, vitality and positive self- appraisal Feelings of attractiveness and beauty Trust and respect for their bodies Freedom of expression with their bodies, not dependent on weight People with negative body image describe Dissatisfaction with their physical appearance Belief that their appearance is being scrutinized and evaluated by others Excessive emphasis on physical appearance in how they evaluate themselves Distressing preoccupation with their bodies Feelings of shame and/or embarrassment

Positive Body Image Realistic perception of the body Understand that healthy, attractive bodies come in many shapes and sizes, and that physical appearance says very little about character or value Assessment of the body is separate from a sense of self-esteem

Negative body image Body dysmorphic disorder Over-preoccupation with an “imagined” physical defect in appearance Usually nose, skin, or hair Anxiety and/or depression Muscle dysmorphia (bigorexia) Over-preoccupation with the perception or feeling that one’s muscles are too small or too weak Spend unrealistic amounts of time working out in the gym, and yet they don’t feel “good enough”

What Are Some Factors That Affect Body Image? Standards set by society and the culture that surrounds us Comments from family, friends, and others about our bodies, their bodies, and other people’s bodies Self-esteem (view our bodies and evaluate ourselves) History of abuse, teasing, life changes, and physical changes that may be a result of puberty, medical problems, surgery or sports injuries Images of idealized versus normal bodies

Eating Disorders Negative body image and body dissatisfaction increase risk Anorexia or bulimia nervosa Perceive themselves as being larger than they actually are Increase in dieting behaviour – depression, decreased self-confidence, increased feelings of anxiety, feelings of unattractiveness and persistent concern about weight People with negative body image may – Engage in excessive body checking – Camouflage their size and shape with loose and bulky clothing – Avoid social situations that trigger physical self-consciousness – Avoid exposing their bodies

How Do Eating and Body Image Go Together? Eating disorders are internal conflicts about food and/or body size and shape Healthy eating behaviours are associated with feeling confident about body shape and size Disordered eating behaviours are associated with a preoccupation with appearance and an attempt to change body size through a focus on diets

Eating disorders Anorexia nervosa Fear of weight gain and severe restriction of food intake, which can result in significant weight loss Bulimia nervosa Attempt to avoid weight gain or to manage weight through frequent compensation by purging Binge eating disorder pattern of binge eating (feeling out of control while eating) without purging May take a variety of forms (mild to severe)

How Can Body Image Affect Personal Health? How can body image affect personal health?

Boosting a Body Image? What are three ways to boost body image? How can you change your body type? If you know people who are always comparing themselves to others in terms of appearance, what could you do or say to help? How could participating in physical activity contribute to positive body image?

Exposure to Mass Media and Weight Concerns Girls between Grades 5 and 12 – 69% reported that magazine pictures influence their idea of the perfect body shape – 47% reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures – Girls who were frequent readers of fashion magazines were two to three times more likely than infrequent readers To diet to lose weight because of a magazine article To exercise to lose weight because of a magazine article To feel that magazines influence what they believe is the ideal body shape

Dove Self-Esteem Fund Think critically about the media and about how much the media work to influence people of all ages