Body Image Anxiety In Youth: We make fun of anyone, their body, their lifestyle, what they eat, what they say, and so on. Do you know how dangerous this can be?
Effects of Body Shaming on Mental Health: People have to face trolling due to their colour, body structure, even what they eat, how they live, what they say, etc. This problem has been going on for years. A study on this has shown that the increasing concern about body image among the youth is becoming a mental health problem. This problem is not limited to the youth battling obesity, but underweight youth are also facing equally serious mental problems. The study has revealed that almost every second youth at both ends of the body weight spectrum is going through moderate to severe mental stress related to body image.
What has come out in the research?
The study, published in the Journal of Education and Health Promotion, is part of the AIIMS-ICMR's ongoing research program on weight control in young adults. It included 1,071 young people aged 18 to 30 who sought treatment at the AIIMS outpatient department. According to the study, 49 percent of obese and 47 percent of underweight youth reported severe body image concerns, compared to 36 percent of normal or slightly overweight youth.
Approximately 25 percent of the youth in the study were overweight and 11 percent were underweight. Most of these were students and came from middle-income families. The data showed that underweight youth experienced nearly twice as much body image stress as normal-weight youth, while obese youth experienced nearly three times as much body image stress.
What do experts say?
Experts involved in the research say that treating weight-related problems by ignoring mental health is impossible. According to Dr. Piyush Ranjan, professor and research lead in the Department of Medicine, "Weight control isn't limited to just weight loss. If emotional issues aren't addressed, young people abandon lifestyle programs midway. Therefore, it's crucial to combine mental health with nutritional care." He further explained that even people with normal weight are being affected.
What holds people back from losing weight
The study, led by nutritionist and PhD scholar Warisha Anwar, found that many young people begin their weight loss journey with enthusiasm, but over time, mental fatigue, body image concerns, academic pressures, and life changes hold them back. This clearly highlights the shortcomings of the calorie-only approach to weight management in India.
social pressure
Researchers believe that the competition for beauty in society exacerbates mental stress, affecting young people's motivation, ability to adhere to treatment, and long-term health. In our society, people judge people based on their looks and body structure. This is evident not only in society but also within families.
What is body shaming?
Body shaming simply means saying negative things about someone's body. This can be done to yourself or to others. It can include making fun of someone's weight, age, hair, clothing, food preferences, or the way they look.
Body shaming is everywhere these days. Whether it's a comment about someone's weight or the "perfect body" photos we see on social media, which aren't actually possible, all of these things make us feel ashamed of our bodies. Whether it's said directly to us or to someone else, it's very harmful to our mental health. It creates feelings of inferiority and makes us believe that our value is solely determined by our looks.
Problems related to body shaming
