We've all done it. You flip through all the fashion magazines, wishing you could look just a little more like some of those girls. But no matter what you do, you can't seem to squeeze into that size 0 (cuz really, who can???) Instead of torturing yourself with goals that are unachievable, why not start focusing on leading a healthier, happier lifestyle? Take a look at what's on the minds of teen girls in regards to body image and find out what can be done about your body insecurities!
Weight Is Ruining My Dreams!
"My best friend is 12, African-American, 180 lbs, tall and is great at acting. No one will give her a chance because of her weight and the fact that she is black. She is very pretty, smart, outgoing and confident but still, because of her race and weight, she can't get an acting job."
Your friend is dealing with a couple of issues here - one that she can work to change, and one that is completely out of her control. She can't help what color skin she has so, in order to start feeling a little more confident about her image, she should focus on her weight. Depending on how tall your friend is, 180 lbs (81.7 kg) could be a healthy weight. What she needs to do is make an appointment at a walk-in clinic, or with her family doctor, who will help her to assess what her ideal weight is. You can help her shed some pounds by getting active with her. Go swimming, bike riding or join a yoga class together. Although you can't change the way other people perceive your friend, you can help her to feel healthy and happy with who she is. Keep reading for some more helpful info.
How Do You Get The Right Body Proportion?
"My body doesn't have the right proportion. I'm not fat or anything. It's just that I'm tall and my hips are pretty wide but my breasts are too small for the rest of my body. I was always optimistic about this, thinking that this will change sometime in the future but my friends always use the way I look to put me down. Most of the time they don't mean it, but it makes me really depressed. Please help and tell me what you think is the best attitude towards this, to get over the stress."
First, there is no right proportion when it comes to a person's body. There are the proportions that you see on magazine covers or on TV that are portrayed as the "right proportion" but the truth is, these body images are unattainable by the majority of women in the world. Second, you are still a teen - which means your body is still growing, filling out and adjusting itself to its ideal, mature weight and proportion. There are so many hormones raging through your body during this time that it's natural for things to seem a little off balance. Sometimes your hips will grow at a faster rate than your breasts but they usually level out eventually.
For girls, your body usually fully matures by the time you are 18. But during this period you are going to get taller and gain some extra body fat. A mature woman can not hold onto her pre-pubescent weight or proportions. That's just not healthy. You're going to gain weight and that's ok. The most important thing you should focus on, is staying active and getting all the proper nutrients and vitamins you need during this growth period. The most common problem for teenaged girls is that they stop taking gym and drop out of organized sports right when staying physically fit is most important. Forget about what your friends have to say about your body and remember that it's you who has to be happy with it and nobody else. If you are really concerned with something that's going on with your body, go see a doctor. They'll be able tell you what's healthy and what's not. Good Luck!
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