Challenging Body Image Influences

 
 

Body image pressure young people describe

REWORD ALL THIS!!! Between the changes of puberty, school, sports and social media, it’s normal to worry about how you look. But constant pressure can harm your mood, make you compare yourself to others, and stop you enjoying things. This page gives quick, practical ways to recognise pressure and challenge it under five areas: people around us, school, media, sport, and social media.

1. People around us

Who? Friends, family, classmates, coaches, and even strangers can say things that make you feel judged.

Signs:

  • Teasing about weight, height or clothes

  • Comments meant as jokes that make you self-conscious

  • People comparing you to others

How to challenge it:

  • Use a calm response: “That comment makes me uncomfortable. Please stop.”

  • Set boundaries: Leave the conversation or change the topic if someone keeps making comments.

  • Find allies: Talk to a trusted friend, teacher or family member. You don’t have to handle it alone.

  • Model kindness: Compliment skills or character instead of appearance (e.g., “You were great at presenting today!”).

Activity: Practise one short response with a friend or in front of a mirror for the next time someone teases you.

2. School pressure

School can focus on uniform, PE kits, and how you look in class photos or at events.

Signs:

  • Pressure to have the “right” shoes, hair, or outfit

  • Mean comments in corridors or crowded places

  • Comparisons during sport or drama tryouts

How to challenge it:

  • Talk to staff: Report repeated bullying to a teacher, tutor, or school counsellor. Schools have ways to support students.

  • Organise positive campaigns: Start or join anti-bullying, diversity, or body-positive groups.

  • Create neutral uniforms: If uniform makes you anxious, discuss alternatives (comfortable shoes, layers) with school leaders.

  • Plan calm exits: If events feel stressful, agree a quiet space or buddy to step out for a short break.

Activity: Make a small poster for a noticeboard: "Be kind. Bodies are different. Respect everyone."

3. Media pressure (TV, magazines, ads)

Traditional media often shows narrow ideas of beauty — edited photos, perfect bodies, or product ads that tell you what you should look like.

Signs:

  • Feeling like you don’t match what you see on screen

  • Interested in buying products just to fit a look

How to challenge it:

  • Remember editing: Many images are retouched, filtered or staged. Comparison isn’t fair.

  • Ask questions: Who benefits from this ad? Is it selling an ideal or a product?

  • Choose different media: Follow magazines, shows or creators that celebrate different bodies and real people.

Activity: Pick an ad and list three reasons it might be misleading (lighting, editing, models being paid).

4. Sport pressure

Sports can highlight weight, body shape, or performance in ways that feel personal.

Signs:

  • Comments about “bulk”, “being too small” or dieting to perform

  • Body checks or scales in front of others

How to challenge it:

  • Focus on function: Think about what your body does (speed, stamina, skill), not how it looks.

  • Talk to coaches: Ask for private, respectful conversations about fitness and health instead of public comments.

  • Refuse harmful practices: If a coach asks for risky dieting or body checks, tell a trusted adult and report it.

  • Find the right sport: Some activities celebrate different body types more than others. Try new sports for confidence.

Activity: Make a list of three things your body helped you do this week (e.g., climbed stairs, laughed, sprinted).

5. Social media pressure

Social platforms make comparisons fast: filters, likes, and highlight reels can seem like everyone else’s life is perfect.

Signs:

  • Checking likes to feel better (or worse)

  • Comparing your body to influencers or classmates

  • Feeling anxious after scrolling

How to challenge it:

  • Curate your feed: Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad. Follow creators who share real, diverse bodies and honest stories.

  • Use time limits: Set app timers or choose screen-free times (before bed, during meals).

  • Remember editing & angles: Photos are chosen from many — they aren’t an everyday snapshot.

  • Share real moments: Post things that matter to you (skills, friendships, hobbies), not only looks.

Activity: Try a 48-hour challenge: no social media for two days and write down how your mood changes.

If you need support

It’s okay to ask for help. Reach out if pressure feels too heavy, if you’re avoiding activities, or if comments are turning into bullying.

  • Talk to a trusted adult: teacher, parent, school nurse, or counsellor.

  • Use school resources: wellbeing groups, counsellors, or a trusted tutor.

  • Emergency: If someone’s safety is at risk, contact local emergency services immediately.

Takeaway quick tips

  • You are more than your appearance — skills, kindness and effort matter most.

  • Set boundaries with people and apps that harm you.

  • Ask for support when you need it — that’s a sign of strength, not weakness.