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Body image, eating and exercise

Helping children and young people to like and accept themselves just as they are is essential for promoting positive mental health. Eating disorders and related body image and exercise issues are on the rise. Schools are well positioned to promote positive attitudes and healthy, active lifestyles among children and young people.

Exercise and eating

School-aged athletes under pressure from media messages and performance targets may try dangerous weight gain or weight loss methods. Young athletes have been found to be at increased risk of developing eating and exercise issues leading to such disorders as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and anorexia athletica. Coaches can play a crucial role in encouraging safe practices and helping at-risk athletes seek help.

Good Enough To Eat: a coach's guide to addressing body image and eating issues among school-aged athletes (new window) 1.1M was distributed to all Queensland state schools in 2001 and to many sporting coaches and clubs across Australia on request.

Body Image and Eating Issues

Too few of our primary and secondary students feel positive and confident about their size, shape and physical appearance. Many are teased, the majority of adolescent girls diet to lose weight and some boys also try to diet or 'bulk up'. We all feel the pressure of popular culture and its narrow images of beauty, health and fitness.

Schools do make an impact, but it takes thoughtful and concerted efforts to create places that truly value the diversity of natural body shape and sizes. Teachers can take action personally, with students, staff, parents or community members if they:

challenge media and cultural messages that pressure us to adopt popular body shapes
question narrow beliefs about health, fitness and beauty
promote positive body image, self esteem and supportive relationships

Bite Me

A booklet and CD Rom resource by and for young women produced by ISIS - Centre for Women's Action on Eating Issues

and is available for purchase on their website.

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