In today’s media-dominated society, there seems to be a universal message being advertised: “Be tall, be thin, and be beautiful.” Let’s face it- this message is everywhere from commercials, ads, TV shows, and magazines, each displaying so-called ‘drop-dead gorgeous’ models. This ‘new standard of beauty’ affects teens every day, trying to fit these popular expectations. The effects of such standards can cause a variety of problems for teens and they may even hurt themselves in the process.

Every day, when thousands of teens look in the mirror they are not completely satisfied with the person they see looking back at them. Such discontent leaves many at risk of developing an eating disorder, dangerous weight problems, unhealthy eating habits, or a harmful body image.

Eating disorders are not something to be taken lightly. According to studies, five to seven percent of women in the U.S. will suffer from an eating disorder. The three most common eating disorders among teens are Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder (BED), and Bulimia Nervosa, each presenting its own symptoms.

Now, there is nothing wrong with having a healthy attitude towards monitoring your health, but when this is taken to an extreme to fulfill an absurd ideal, it can become a serious health threat to the individual.

As a guidance Counselor, Mrs. Sheehan notes that during different times of the year, especially during Homecoming and Prom seasons, girls attempt to live up to their perfect vision: perfect dress, hair, tan, makeup, and weight. This, of course, may not always work out and can cause unnecessary stress and self-frustration. Many times, Mrs. Sheehan remarks, “When girls walk into the dance for example, they immediately compare themselves to others. They use each other like measuring sticks to rank themselves.”

Self-esteem and weight issues are not gender specific as we can be led to believe as boys are also subject to the same pressures. Yes, Mrs. Sheehan explains, boys are like girls. They, too, want to fit in so they may spend a lot of their time trying to become more muscular and athletic. Mrs. Sheehan also wanted to point out that many actors and actresses in Hollywood that appear beautiful actually have an unrealistic and possibly unattainable body image. They have exclusive makeup artists and special resources that are not available to us, so trying to meet their standard would be nearly impossible.

When talking to students I noticed a commonality in many of their responses: either they had a personal experience themselves, or knew of a friend that dealt with pressure to maintain an unreasonable body image. The harmful effects of this body image obsession can be seen everywhere, even in our friends.

Ideal Truth: We should never have to feel the pressure to be super thin.
Reality: It is quite hard to block out all that pressure!

At some time or another, many of us have compared ourselves to a celebrity on the cover of a magazine, and possibly felt like we needed to fix aspects of ourselves to match that ‘beauty standard.’ But in all honesty, no one is perfect in real life, no matter how skinny. This is the true reality of beauty: girls (and guys) who are content with themselves are the most beautiful to those around them; including the imperfections which make us all unique. Self-confidence can outshine any weight.

Jennifer Lopez says, “Some people are naturally thin, and some are heavier. There is a lot of focus on it, and it can be a lot of pressure for people. But honestly, I think as long as someone is healthy, that is most important.” With that in mind, I sincerely believe that the importance of ‘how thin you are’ does not even compare to that of your personality and disposition towards others.

Make it your goal to pay a genuine compliment to someone who you normally wouldn’t because, well, wouldn’t you like one? Pass on a little kindliness and you are sure to receive some in return. Everyone is beautiful in their own way, so next time you are faced with a feeling to change something about yourself, pause and think,

“What makes me different from everyone else…what makes me unique?”