Body Image

What is Body Image?

Body image is a person’s inner perception of their own body*. Body image includes physical appearance, such as weight, height, facial features, physical maturation, race and ethnicity, other diverse body features, as well as abilities.  (Tompson, Heinberg, Altabe, Teanteleff-Dunn, 1999)

Why Be Concerned About Body Image?

Negative body image may result in:

• Poor self esteem;
• The desire to be “fixed;”
• Less participation in physical activities;
• Withdrawal from other life activities;
• Barriers to learning;
• Limiting food choices;
• Extreme weight change;
• Disordered eating, e.g. binge-eating or dieting;
• Dangerous cosmetic surgery; and/or
• Anxiety, depression, and in some cases, suicide.

Research Findings

In 2004, ETFO released the results of a major research study on body image. The study was conducted for ETFO by Dr. June Larkin, Program Director, Equity Studies Centre, Institute for Women’s Studies and Gender Studies, , and Dr. Carla Rice, Clinical Program Specialist, Body Image Project, Regional Women’s Health Centre, Sunnybook and Women’s . The study looked at the international literature on body image and recommended ways in which ETFO could address the issue in elementary schools.

The research found that:

• By age four, children want to be thin.
• By age eight, while both girls and boys are struggling with body image, girls experience the issue much more keenly.
• By age 12, many girls won’t risk exposing their bodies to ridicule.
• By age 15, many girls react to constant teasing and harassment about their bodies by resorting to extreme weight loss and binge eating.
• Girls who internalize negative thoughts about their bodies may withdraw from physical activities and other learning experiences. A positive body image builds self-esteem and creates well-adjusted children who are enthusiastic about life’s opportunities.

More recent research has confirmed those initial concerns, showing that girls indicate body dissatisfaction at many different stages of their lives. As well, OISE/UT professor Dr. Lorayne Dunlop-Robertson worked with ETFO to conduct feedback interviews at the schools where the project was tested. She conducted further research to respond to the interview findings, which confirmed what was known about girls and revealed that body image is a significant issue for boys also. Dissatisfaction with their bodies appears to be connected to boys’ ideas about masculinity and sports, and that boys feel pressure to be thin, muscular, and tall.

Curriculum Addresses Body Image

The research has resulted in a comprehensive, field-tested, grades 1 to 8 curriculum Reflections of Me: The ETFO Body Image Project. While many teachers integrate it into the language arts curriculum, it can be integrated into other areas of the elementary school program. Reflections of Me is most effective when implemented as a whole-school project.

The curriculum focuses on different themes for different age groups:

• The grades 1 – 3 theme is accepting diverse bodies.
• The grade 3 – 6 theme is promoting body acceptance and building resistance to body-based harassment.
• The grade 7 – 8 theme is questioning adherence to body norms.

Parents Can Help

Parents play key roles in shaping their children’s perceptions of their bodies, and can help by:

• reminding children that genetics play an important role in determining a person’s weight, size, and body type;
• promoting exercise and healthy eating as a means to physical well-being and enjoyment;
• trusting children’s internal hunger and fullness cues;
• reinforcing the idea that all bodies are acceptable;
• talking with children about how the media portrays physical appearances, as well as the under-representation of certain types of bodies in the media.
• challenging put-downs and bullying based on body image at home and in the community.
• being positive role models with regard to body image.
• commenting positively on children’s ability, character, and on areas where children excel.
• celebrating the uniqueness of all people.

ETFO Resources Available

Reflections of Me: The ETFO Body Image Project kit includes a video, curriculum for each grade level, and a brochure for parents.

For a copy of ETFO’s body image brochure, click on Body Image Brochure.

For more information on Reflections of Me: The ETFO Body Image Project, contact Joan Littleford, jlittleford@etfo.org at 416-962-3836 or 1-888-838-3836.