Body and self-esteem · For ages 13–17
Body image pressure
Body image pressure means expectations about what bodies should look like.
Pressure can come from social media, advertising, friends, comments and your own thoughts.
Comparison can affect your self-esteem
It is easy to compare your body with pictures of others, even though pictures may be edited or show only a small part of reality.
Bodies develop differently
Puberty, genetics, hormones and many other factors mean that bodies look different and develop at different rates.
Notice how content makes you feel
Ask yourself how you feel after viewing certain accounts or videos. Do you want to hide, compare yourself or make strict rules about food or exercise? It may help to see less of that content and choose other sources and interests.
Filters, selective images and commercial messages can present a narrow picture of bodies. At the same time, putting your phone away does not resolve every difficult thought about your body. Talk to someone if these thoughts take up a lot of space or affect meals, activity, friendships or mood.
When thoughts about your body take over
Perhaps thoughts about your body, food, exercise or weight make it difficult to concentrate, eat with others or join activities you enjoy. You can talk to a school nurse or your regular doctor.
Describe how these thoughts affect everyday life. You can get support and help understanding what you need.
What next?
Self-esteem is about more than appearance
It may help to notice what your body enables you to do, what you enjoy and qualities you value in yourself that are not about appearance.
If thoughts about your body, food or exercise become overwhelming or make everyday life difficult, talk to a school nurse or your regular doctor.
Sources
These are the sources used for this article. Links open in a new tab. Source titles may be in Norwegian.
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