A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Once again, the Mission Australia Survey of Australian Young People has shown that body image is a major cause of concern for young people. Amongst females it was the highest concern, reflecting our society's extreme emphasis on physical attractiveness defined by the media, fashion and entertainment industries. It's an indication that marketing, advertising and consumerism continue to be a [...]
10% of girls self harm* Image Source: Youthbeyondblue A recent study published in The Lancet, The natural history of self-harm from adolescence to young adulthood: a population-based cohort study, took a group of 1,943 young people from 44 schools in Victoria and documented their lives from the age of 14 to 29 years old. During [...]
The infamous phrase “does my bum look big in this?” will never be heard in the Winslet household. Why? Because actor Kate Winslet is determined to be a positive role model for her daughter Mia and every other girl out there who is approaching her teenage years. Image Source: Getty In 2003 Britain’s GQ magazine [...]
The Mission Australia survey of Australian young people consistently indicates that body image more is more troubling to them than issues such as the environment and discrimination. We are now seeing primary school aged children dieting in order to bring their appearance more in line with expectations set by the media. Below is an example of how [...]
Australian Vogue has broken with 50 years of tradition by featuring a plus size model in its September issue. Australian born Robyn Lawley appears in the 10 page spread called Belle Curve and models clothes by Australian designers such as Alex Perry, Willow and Carla Zampatti. Vogue Italia is calling it the "Now Shape", the [...]
Finally the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK has realised that advertising agencies who intentionally re-touch and alter images are sending the wrong message to young women. In this case the ASA has banned a series of Maybelline and Lancôme adverts (who are owned by L'Oreal) featuring Hollywood celebrity Julia Roberts and supermodel Christy [...]
A recent report, The Female Body’s Dysmorphic Epidemic: How Contemporary Women Are Coping With Our Aberrant Social Reality, looks at the growing trend in women to look emaciated as a fashion and beauty statement. According to the Oxford Dictionary Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength as a result of [...]
Does my bum look big in this ad?, published by Wombat Books, This book is great for teenagers and a fabulous resource for teachers, parents and carers. It looks at the issues of body image and the media from a teenage friendly perspective. It is written in easy language that young people can understand with [...]
50% of 3 to 6 year old girls say they worry about being fat 70% of 7 year old girls want to be thinner 50% of 9 year old girls have been on a diet 25% of young people diagnosed with anorexia are boys* Parents, especially mothers play a major role when it comes to [...]
75% of women link to drink before sex with their partners 25% of women ‘tipsy’ first time they slept with their partner 6% have never had sex when sober* Concerns about lack of self esteem and poor body image are driving many women to drink before they engage in sex with their partners. It is [...]
