Body Image in Children and Adolescents Essay - 3358 Words

Body Image in Children and Adolescents What is body image? A two-dimensional model of body image incorporates both perceptual and emotional components. It focuses on both how we feel about the size and shape of our bodies and how accurately we perceive our body size as well. A more recent cognitive approach suggests that body image is a complex set of cognitive schema. A schema is a grouped body of knowledge. Groups of schema are readily available for important tasks such as guiding behavior, circumstantial scripts (or dialogue), and evoking the appropriate emotional, somatic, visual, and auditory responses in certain situations. The cognitive schema for body image is an organized domain of knowledge about oneself and others.†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately, studies show that many young children have already internalized negative body images of themselves. Body image is studied widely in the fields of psychology and psychiatry because of the correlation between body image distortions and eating disorders or se lf-esteem issues. My literature review paper includes several very recent studies that address the cognitive and behavioral components of body image and dieting in young children and adolescents. I discuss what is known and what is still not understood about body image in children around the world today. I give examples of holistic programs developed for school and community involvement in body image awareness. I attempt to show the complexities of the issues about body image and conclude with (what I feel might be) the most effective method (to date) for incorporating healthy body image awareness into the community and instilling realistic goals within each individual child. The Research Research with preadolescent children reports mixed findings about at what age body image becomes a real issue for them. Body-image dissatisfaction was believed to be associated with the onset of puberty. Current literature suggests that the development of body image dissatisfaction occurs as much as 3 to 4 years prior to the onset of puberty. A study by Rolland, Farnhill, and Griffiths (1997) showed that children as young as 8 years of age report high levels of body dissatisfaction and negativeShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Obesity On Adolescents : Childhood Obesity1068 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Obesity on Adolescents Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health problems in the 21st century. According to PMC, the US Library of National Health and Medicine and National Institutes of Health, over 42 million children under the age of five are obese worldwide in 2010, and that number continues to ascend at an alarming rate. Obesity occurs when the body stores an excess amount of fat that is not necessary for the person’s survival. 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