- Body image can be described as how individuals see themselves when looking in a mirror, or when picturing themselves in their mind, and their ideas about their body, such as height, shape, and weight and age.
- 1 out of every 4 college aged women has an eating disorder.
- Current research indicates many men wish to become more muscular than they currently perceive themselves to be, often desiring up to 26 pounds of additional muscle mass.
- It is estimated that 40-50 percent of American women are trying to lose weight at any point in time.
- Body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders are more prevalent among women than men.
- Negative perceptions by a person regarding their body, such as a perception that they are fat, can in some cases lead to mental disorders such as depression or eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa.
- 59% of females reported dissatisfaction with their body shape, and 66% expressed the desire to lose weight.
- Almost half of all women smokers smoke because they see it as the best way to control their weight. Of these women, 25 percent will die of a disease caused by smoking.
- A study found that 53 percent of 13 year-old American girls are unhappy with their bodies. This number grows to 78 percent by the time girls reach 17.
- Of 140 adolescent smokers surveyed, 15 percent adhered to the belief that cigarettes help control weight (9 percent males, 22 percent females).
- Body image dissatisfaction and dieting behavior isn't restricted to adolescents or adults. In a study of almost 500 schoolgirls, 81 percent of the 10-year-olds reported that they had dieted at least once.
- Some studies conclude that women are more worried about their body image than men and that their concern can impact on their health.
- The desire to lose weight is highly correlated with poor body image.
body image facts
