Body Image Is Just As Big An Issue For Teenage Boys As Girls, Survey Finds
Body image is just as big a problem for teenage boys as girls, a survey has revealed.
Boys in secondary school are equally concerned about eating disorders, dieting and extreme exercise.
The survey of 1,000 boys aged eight to 18, conducted by advertising agency think tank Credos, revealed that 55 per cent would consider changing their diet to look better.
According to the survey, the main influence on boys to look good is their friends, with 68 per cent saying there is body image pressure from their peers.
The second biggest influence (57 per cent) was social media, followed by advertising on 53 per cent and celebrities on 49 per cent.
Almost one in four boys - 23 per cent - said they believed there was such a thing as a perfect male body.
More than half of boys (55 per cent) said eating disorders are an issue for both boys and girls.
In addition, 56 per cent said they struggled to talk to teachers about body image concerns, and 29 per cent couldn’t talk to their parents.
One teacher told the study that boys are bullied about their appearance in a different way to girls.
They said there was an expectation that boys would be able to laugh off negative remarks, which isn’t always the case.
The report said there should be more advice and education for boys, their teachers and parents about body image issues.
“Boys are increasingly worried about their appearance,” said Karen Fraser from Credos.
“The relatively low awareness of boys’ body image issues amongst parents and teachers, coupled with a culture of boys not discussing their worries, makes it a tough environment for boys to seek support.”
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(Pictures: Rex)
