September 21, 2006
Eighty per cent of Canadian teenage girls feel dissatisfied with their bodies or consider themselves overweight. In addition, an Ontario-based study revealed that thirty per cent of 10-14 year-old girls were dieting to lose weight, despite being within a healthy weight range. Another study found that amongst teenage girls ages 12-15, 23% were dieting to lose weight, 15% were binge eating, 8% self-induced vomiting, 2% used diet pills, and 1.1% used laxatives. Boys are becoming increasingly concerned with body image issues resulting in unhealthy body change strategies. One study found that 83,000 youth, a majority of them male between the ages of 11 and 18, use steroids mostly to improve performance in sport or to change appearance.
In response to these startling trends, St. Joseph’s Care Group – Eating Disorders Program and Nutrition Services Thunder Bay District Health Unit will be sponsoring a free information seminar for teachers, parents and others working with children and youth.
“We receive frequent calls from both concerned parents and teachers regarding body image issues in children, and boys in particular” says Angela Hollett, Public Health Dietitian at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. “There are many conflicting messages out there about ideal body shapes and sizes. It is important for schools and families to promote and model healthy practices and attitudes as children are very much influenced by the positive and negative attitudes and choices of their parents and teachers.”
“THE FOUNDATION OF HEALTHY BODY IMAGE: IT’S A’PARENT and A’TEACHER” will address the issues of childhood obesity and children at risk of developing eating disorders. It will be held Monday, October 2nd, 2006 from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at the Victoria Inn (555 Arthur St W) in Thunder Bay, ON. The presenter will be Dr. Shelly Russell-Mayhew, Psychologist and co-creator of the “Body Image Works” school resources.
Activities will be drawn from teaching kits that offer teachers and parents complete lesson plans and classroom materials that address key areas such as healthy behaviors and self-acceptance, media awareness and influences on body image, puberty changes, and bullying or discrimination based on appearance.
-30-