Global survey finds two in five young people don't like the way they look

A new survey's lifting the lid about the way we feel about the way we look.

The study, from THO and the Global Equality Collective, asked people aged 12-30 from across the globe about body image.

It found 39% had a "negative" view about themselves, with only 15% feeling "positive" about their appearance.

Men and women struggle with body image

The survey found both men and women struggled with their own body image, challenging perceptions that its mainly an issue that affects females.

• 84% of girls aged 12-16 do not have a positive body image of themselves
• The number is 1% higher for those aged 17-20, while 47% said they had a negative body image.
• The most common themes influencing female body image was the pressure to have an "hourglass figure"
• 37% of boys aged 12-16 years said they had a negative body image.
• The number rose to 40% for those aged 21-25
• The most common themes influencing body image was the pressure to look muscular, lean and in shape.

Hear more about the body image report on this week's Mental Health Monday Podcast

Social media impact on body image

Social media was the highest contributing factor to body image pressures in the UK.

With the increasing number of image/video sharing platforms, the reports authors are concerned about how this will impact users of those platforms.

• 67% of respondents in the UK said they had changed parts of themselves due to pressures they had faced.

Many of the comments received sparked concern for researchers with mentions of 'eating disorders, bulimia, cosmetic surgery and drug use'.

Some examples included having lip fillers, teeth whitening, starving, and taking steroids.

One response said "We are guilty of providing platforms and making successes out of "attractive people" through social media, reality shows and this cancels the goodwill of body positivity campaigns."

"I ended up anorexic"

Tommy Hatto from THO, co-founder of the report, told our Mental Health Monday Podcast he was inspired to investigate body image after suffering with anorexia.

He said: "As a man, going through that, I never spoke about it because I associated any feelings of insecurities about my looks with women, and not men.

"What ultimately happened was I suffered from an eating disorder because I didn't know what it meant to be in shape, I was exercising and trying to eat the things I thought were right, and I ended up anorexic."

Tommy wants to share his experience to help normalise the conversation about eating disorders and body image.

He says he understands that not everyone will always be happy with their body - but that should never be based on external perceptions: "It was about learning to love who I am and accept who I am.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve the way you look, but it's about doing it for yourself rather than for other people."

Tommy says children as young as 14 are already talking about taking action to change the way they look, and that's a cause for concern.

"They wanted to consider getting a boob job, or plastic surgery because they felt, from the imagery they were shown on celebrity and social media, that that was what it took to be beautiful."

Get support around eating disorders and body image

Find out more about THO.

For information and advice on eating disorders visit the BEAT website.

Find all mental health services where you live by visiting the Hub of Hope.

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