A group of girls I work with constantly compare body shape and size and talk about thin celebrities as role models they aspire to. Two have lost a lot of weight, claiming that they are too fat. How should I address this?
Look at any magazine shelf and you have a range of mixed messages – when did a size 12 become “curvy”? Celebrities are revered for losing weight and then vilified for putting it back on. No wonder this has an impact on girls who are coming to terms with their changing bodies.
Organise a girls’ night where you can do some work around body image, healthy eating and self-esteem. Make a collage to discuss the issues about what is good, healthy and realistic for young women. It can give them the chance to think about issues and perceptions of acceptability and beauty.
Training manuals such as the charity FPA’s Beyond Barbie and Girls Out Loud will help give ideas to address the issues. If you are really worried, have a word with their parents and find out if they have similar concerns.
Answered by Jeanie Lynch, who works for Barnardo’s and has 25 years’ experience of working with vulnerable children and families
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