11 FACTS ABOUT BODY IMAGE
b'"Body image" is the way that someone perceives their body and assumes that others perceive them. This image is often affected by family, friends, social pressure and the media.[1]\\nPeople who are unhappy with their bodies and don\'t seek healthy nutrition information may develop eating disorders. "Eating disorders" are unhealthy relationships with food that may include fasting, constant dieting, or binging and purging.[2]\\nBody image is closely linked to self-esteem. Low self-esteem in adolescents can lead to eating disorders, early sexual activity, substance use and suicidal thoughts. You can post encouraging notes in your school bathrooms to brighten your classmates\\u2019 day. Sign up for Mirror Messages.[3]\\nApproximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape. Unfortunately, only 5% of women naturally possess the body type often portrayed by Americans in the media.[4]\\n58% of college-aged girls feel pressured to be a certain weight.[5]\\nStudies show that the more reality television a young girl watches, the more likely she is to find appearance important.[6]\\nMore than 1/3 of the people who admit to \\u201cnormal dieting,\\u201d will merge into pathological dieting. Roughly 1/4 of those will suffer from a partial or full-on eating disorder.[7]\\nIn a survey, more than 40% of women and about 20% of men agreed they would consider cosmetic surgery in the future. The statistics remain relatively constant across gender, age, marital status, and race.[8]\\nStudents, especially women, who consume more mainstream media, place a greater importance on sexiness and overall appearance than those who do not consume as much.[9]\\n95% of people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.[10]\\nOnly 10% of people suffering from an eating disorder will seek professional help.[11]'