Four Big Fat Lies That Teens Believe about Body Image
By
Charles Hopkins Published 09/20/2007 |
Fitness
One of the most important issues facing our teens today is their
overall health. Weight is one of the biggest health issues being faced
by millions of teens. Excess weight is one of the biggest adversaries
of a positive body image, particularly in girls and young women.
Unfortunately, these females are buying into some big fat lies that can
hurt them emotionally and can also cause physical harm.
These big fat lies have been around for a while, and are kept alive
by gullible consumers who listen to dubious marketers. We will go over
these big fat lies one by one, in no particular order.
Big Fat Lie: You absolutely have to look like your friends.
The Truth: No you don't! Listen up here! In some circumstances, it
is physically impossible for two people to be the same size. Your
friend may be able to eat anything and everything and never gain an
ounce, but that my friend is genetics. I know it stinks that you can't
eat half what she does without gaining weight, but that's life. It is
far more important for you to be healthy than it is to fit in your
friend's plaid skirt. Trying to "get down to her size" will only make
you crazy, so be healthy and be happy.
Big Fat Lie: Only losers can't diet their way down to a super model thin body.
The Truth: (add buzzer sound here)! Wrong! Are you aware of the
fact that super models are thinner than ninety-eight percent of the
female population? Look, everyone has certain genes, which will
determine their body type. It was written in stone before you were
born. No single body type is better than the others, so you're
stressing out over something you can't control. Less than 2% of the
population that has the super model look, which means that there are
actually very few people who look like that.
Big Fat Lie: Boys like only the incredibly thin girls.
The Truth: While it may be true that teen guys like to gawk at the
super thin girls, it is another matter altogether when it comes to
dating. Most teenage guys are petrified of "very pretty" girls, and
feel more than a little awkward around them during the teenage years.
In fact, they feel far more comfortable with regular girls.
Big Fat Lie: How a person looks is the only thing that matters, not how they get there.
The Truth: This is what is known as faulty logic. The most
important thing is that you are healthy. If you are so concentrated on
attaining a certain look that it is adversely affecting your health,
then you are punishing yourself for absolutely no reason. Think about
this for a moment. If you are doing something you know isn't good for
you simply to look a certain way, don't you realize it will catch up to
you? If you abuse your body, it will only take it for so long, and then
it is payback time.
Dont measure your self worth by another persons standards.
Endeavor to stay healthy and fit by maintaining a proper diet with
plenty of exercise. Be healthy, be happy and most of all - be you!
