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Boys increasingly have low self-esteem about their body image, teachers warn.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers claims the promotion of ideal body images is reducing both boys' and girls' confidence in their own bodies.

Last year, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Body Image recommended all children took part in compulsory body image and self-esteem lessons.

The union will discuss the issue of body image among pupils at its annual conference in Liverpool next week.

In a survey of 693 members across the UK, the union found 78% thought girls suffered low self-esteem and 51% thought boys had low confidence in their body image.

In addition, 59% of staff said that worries about body image made female pupils anxious and 30% said it caused anxiety in male pupils.

Some 55% said that girls were "ultra-sensitive" to comments about their appearance and 27% said boys took comments to heart.

Diets

Pressure to achieve the perfect body meant girls were likely to go on a diet, according to 54% of staff and boys were prone to start excessive exercise regimes, said 30% of those surveyed.

Despite knowing about airbrushing, the girls still feel the need to aspire to unrealistic notions of beauty
Teacher

Asked where the pressure came from, 94% of those surveyed said they believed the media, including television, magazines, music videos, adverts and social media was the biggest influence on female pupils and also on male pupils (68%).

Peers of the same sex were also highlighted as a key cause of pressure on female pupils to look good by 83% of respondents and on male pupils by 54%.

A teacher at a secondary academy in Wandsworth, London, said: "I find that boys who are shorter than their peers are extremely sensitive and manifest either disruptive behaviour or are very withdrawn."

One early years teacher in England said: "I work with four to five-year-olds and some say things like, 'I can't eat cheese, it will make me fat!'"

A teacher at a secondary school in Northern Ireland said: "In my year 11 GCSE English class, the girls all openly admitted to feeling pressure about body image and many of the boys confessed to it too, although they said that usually they wouldn't admit to it affecting them.

A head of department at a secondary school in Exeter said: "Digital and social media are a nightmare with 'anonymous' sites that slate students in the most appalling terms on their appearance, personality and anything judge-able."

"Despite knowing about airbrushing, the girls still feel the need to aspire to unrealistic notions of beauty."

'Tremendous pressure'

Association of Teachers and Lecturers general secretary Mary Bousted said: "Young people are under tremendous pressure to have or maintain often unrealistic body images portrayed in the media.

"ATL members report that this not only impacts on female pupils but increasingly leads to low self-esteem, lack of confidence and anxiety in male pupils too.

"With academic and other social pressures, young people already have enough to deal with."

Last November, Central YMCA Qualifications announced plans for a UK qualification in body image.

The award - body image and the relationship to well-being - will cover topics such as body image in the media, self-esteem, diet and exercise and aims to help young people aged 11 to 14 build a more positive body image.

It is hoped the qualification - currently with the exams regulator, Ofqual, for approval - will be rolled out in secondary schools in the UK from next year, possibly as part of PSHE (personal, social and health education) or free study periods.

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Boys increasingly have low self-esteem about their body image, teachers warn. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers claims the promotion of ideal body images is reducing both boys' and girls' confidence in their own bodies. Last year, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Body Image recommended all children took part in compulsory body image and self-esteem lessons.

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Beauty standards are constantly changing, especially for women. While this may sound like bad news, it's actually immensely freeing to realise it's pointless to make your body fit in with a trend.

Your body is your body - it doesn't quite know it's meant to be a fashion statement.

Not that that's stopped people from trying to make it one.

SEE ALSO: This Plus Size Model Has A Message For Every Woman Who Ever Doubted Herself This Video Proves That One Size Clothing Doesn't Fit All Women

The above video shows how the "ideal" female figure over 3,000 years has changed, from the curvaceous ladies of the Renaissance to the androgynous models of the 1990s.

Clearly these women are all smokin', proving you don't have to conform to society's current ideals to be attractive.

Beauty comes is all shapes and sizes, it always has and it always will.

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How The Ideal Body For Women Has Changed In 3,000 Years

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Beauty standards are constantly changing, especially for women. While this may sound like bad news, it's actually immensely freeing to realise it's pointless to make your body fit in with a trend. Your body is your body - it doesn't quite know it's meant to be a fashion statement.

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The body image men have is different than the body image women have. While we hear a lot about the importance of a healthy body image in women, a healthy male body image is also important.

Body image not only affects how we see ourselves, it affects how we interact with others and how we behave. It affects our physical and mental health.
How Male Body Image Develops
Men begin to develop their body image when they are still children, based on parental cues. When they begin attending school, their body image develops further. The media also influences the development of the body image men have. Under ideal circumstances, men develop realistic body images. They understand what a healthy body looks like and have realistic expectations about what they should weigh.

Unfortunately, if men grow up with criticisms about their appearance, their body image may suffer. Men that are regularly exposed to unrealistic images in the media may also experience a poor body image. Even little boys that play with GI Joe figures may find their body image suffers; a GI Joe toy, if extrapolated into human size, would be taller than the average man and have bigger biceps than any bodybuilder. This gives boys an unrealistic ideal to live up to.
Problems With The Body Image Men Have Today
A counselor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering reports that over the past decade, male college students have expressed increasing degrees of dissatisfaction with their bodies. Men that regularly read fitness magazines express greater dissatisfaction than those that don't read such magazines. Male body image suffers when men are exposed to images of unrealistic male bodies.

A survey conducted by Psychology Today found that men believe their appearance is much more important to women then women report it is; for instance, men believe if they lose their hair women will not want to date them, even though many women say they are willing to date bald men. In an effort to become more attractive, men spend billions of dollars on things like hair transplants, cosmetic surgery and pectoral implants. Some men go to great lengths to improve their male body image. There is nothing wrong with trying to improve your appearance but cosmetic surgery procedures involve some risk and these procedures can be very expensive.

The development of eating disorders is a serious concern for men with body image issues. Certainly not all men with poor body image develop eating disorders, but some do. The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness reports that between 2.4 and 3.6 million men suffer from eating disorders today. Up to 20 percent of people with anorexia die from the condition, so this is a very serious issue.
Addressing The Body Image Men Have Today
We must address the poor body image men have to prevent conditions like depression, anorexia and bulimia. Of course a poor male body image is not the only thing that causes such conditions but it can be a contributing factor for some men. It's normal for people to feel a bit self-conscious about their appearance from time to time and it's normal to have a few small things you'd like to change about your appearance if you could. However, if men feel obsessed with their appearance or if their concerns about their appearance begin to interfere with their daily lives, they should seek help. For instance, a man that refuses to participate in social gathering because he worries about his appearance should consider counseling.

Certainly any man that has symptoms of anorexia or bulimia should seek treatment. Symptoms to watch for include excessive weight loss, health problems caused by excessive weight loss or malnutrition, eating very small or very large amounts of food, excessive use of diet pills or laxatives and vomiting after eating.
Get Help Today
If you have body image concerns that are affecting your life, perhaps speaking with an online licensed therapist would help. Your problem is never too small or too big, too silly or too complicated to ask for help from an expert. With Betterhelp, you can speak with a therapist as often as you like, and don't even need to use your real name. You can speak with them by messaging, phone, live chatting or video sessions. For a low weekly flat fee, you get unlimited sessions. To learn more about Betterhelp and see if they can help you, just follow the link to their website.

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The body image men have is different than the body image women have. While we hear a lot about the importance of a healthy body image in women, a healthy male body image is also important. Body image not only affects how we see ourselves, it affects how we interact with others and how we behave.

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http://www.mirror-mirror.org/the-media-and-body-image.htm

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Do you ever wish you could change something about your body? If so, you're not alone. Lots of people feel unhappy with some part of their looks. But when you get stuck on what you don't like, it can really bring down your self-esteem.

You don't need a perfect body to have a good body image. When you like your body as it is, right now, you boost your body image. And your self-esteem too.

But what if I need to be in better shape? Some people think, "When I get in better shape, I'll like my body. But it's best to start the other way. First, accept your body. Find things to like about it. Take good care of your body. When you like your body, it's easier to treat it right.

Want to look and feel your best? Here are some tips:

Accept Your Body

Nobody's perfect. Everybody wants to be liked and accepted just as they are. That's true for every BODY, too! See your body the way it is. Be less of a critic. Be more of a friend.

Don't body-shame yourself. When you make harsh comments about your own body, it hurts your self-esteem. That's true whether you say it out loud or think it to yourself. It hurts just as much as if someone else said it. Be kind. Respect yourself, even if you have things to work on.

Build a better habit. Do you have a habit of putting your body down? To break that bad habit, build a good one in its place. Tell yourself what you like instead of what you don't. Keep doing it until it is a habit.

Like Your Body

Find things to like about your looks. Maybe you like your hair, face, or hands. What about your shape, shoulders, or legs? Your eyes or your smile? Tell yourself what you like and why. If you get stuck, think of what your good friends like about how you look. Accept those things. Know that there's lots to like about you. Let yourself feel good.

Focus on what your body can DO. There's more to your body than your looks. When you play a sport, walk, run, dance, swim - that's your body in action. Your body is there for you when you stretch, reach, climb, or jump for joy. When you carry things, build things, or give someone a hug. Be amazed. Be thankful.

Be aware of your body. Don't ignore your body as you go through the day. Learn to breathe slowly and calmly as you move and stretch. Learn to tell when your body needs food or rest. Enjoy the way your body feels when you walk, run, and play.

Take Care of Your Body

Eat healthy foods. Learn what foods are good for you, and how much is the right amount. Take your time when you eat. Really taste your food. Enjoy it. Eating right helps you look your best. It gives you the energy you need. And it boosts your body image. When you treat your body right, you feel good about yourself.

Get good sleep. Learn how much sleep you need for your age. Get to bed on time. Turn off screens hours before bedtime so you can sleep well.

Be active every day. Your body needs to move to be strong, fit, and healthy. You can be active by playing a sport. You can run, walk, work out, do yoga, swim, or dance. Pick activities you like. Enjoy the fun you can have.

Keep to a healthy weight. Being a healthy weight is good for you. And it helps you feel good about your body. But don't try to diet on your own. Always talk to your parent or doctor. Your doctor can suggest ways you can keep to a weight that's right for you.

What If I Need Help With My Body Image and Self-Esteem?

Sometimes, body image or self-esteem problems are too much to handle alone. Health issues, depression, or trauma can affect how you feel about yourself. Eating disorders can cause a poor body image that isn't true.

Tell a parent, doctor, or therapist what you're going through. Ask for help. Body image and self-esteem can get better with help and care.

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Do you ever wish you could change something about your body? If so, you're not alone. Lots of people feel unhappy with some part of their looks. But when you get stuck on what you don't like, it can really bring down your self-esteem. You don't need a perfect body to have a good body image.

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Take a look at some of the items posted below.  Using those resources and/or what you already may know, what does Body Image mean to you?  You may respond by writing, sharing links/images/videos, or some combination.  Please title your post with your name and period.

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Take a look at some of the items posted below.  Using those resources and/or what you already may know, what does Body Image mean to you?  You may respond by writing, sharing links/images/videos, or some combination.  Please title your post with your name and period.