AT Home with Jo Frost - July 2011 - (Page 236)

The true cost of One in 10 children would pop a diet pill to lose weight, according to a shocking new survey. And a poor body image is damaging a generation of children – but how can parents reverse the trend? e all want our children to have idyllic childhoods, but a terrible epidemic is sweeping through schools, clubs and homes. It could be happening every time your child sees their favourite celebrity on TV, or looks at pictures of models in magazines – or even at their own reﬂection in the mirror. Alarmingly, it’s not only teenagers who are susceptible to anxiety about their body image, young children are affected, too. This anxiety may be reinforced by images and information they receive daily about the ‘perfect body’. In fact, the problem is so serious that MPs Jo Swinson and Lynne Featherstone founded the government’s Body Conﬁdence campaign (campaignforbody confidence.wordpress.com). The campaign is already gaining momentum to combat the potentially damaging effects of body image issues on youngsters. a‘perfect body’ W pills – an unhealthy, ineffective and potentially dangerous way to lose weight,’ says Rosi. ‘Given that the average age of interviewees was 14, we were also shocked that as many as half of the respondents admitted that they’ve been on a diet; both boys and girls admitted that their peers at school have body image problems. ‘This impacts on self-esteem, lowers conﬁdence and affects wellbeing. Body image anxiety can lead to exclusion from exercise, sports and fitness – the very things that can help boost wellbeing.’ And now, body image anxiety is crossing the gender divide. ‘The male ideal perpetuated by fashion, advertisers and the media tends towards lean muscularity and the six-pack,’ continues Rosi. ‘This ideal which is promoted is often unattainable for many males, but can force them down the route of taking steroids.’ REPORT SENDS WARNING AGAINST ‘QUICK FIXES’ Health and ﬁtness charity, Central YMCA (www.ymca.co.uk) and the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England in Bristol, (hls.uwe.ac.uk/ research/car.aspx) recently launched a report, which revealed disturbing results. Some of the most alarming findings, says the chief executive of Central YMCA, Rosi Prescott, are the prevalence of ‘quick ﬁxes’. ‘It’s frightening that one in 10 boys and girls would take laxatives or diet ‘Young people are inﬂuenced by the bombardment of images they see in the media and celebrity culture’ Image and body angst are not just girl issues 240 | JULY 2011 http://confidence.wordpress.com http://www.ymca.co.uk http://hls.uwe.ac.uk/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AT Home with Jo Frost - July 2011

EDITOR’S LETTER
HELLO FROM JO FROST
NOTEBOOK NEWS
JAM-PACKED JULY
FAMILY FORTUNES
OUT AND ABOUT
MUNCH BUNCH
LET’S PARTY!
TOP TOOLS
EXTREME PARENTAL GUIDANCE
FIRST-TIME MUMS
ROUTINE CHECKS
YEAR ONE
MAGNIFICENT MILESTONES
GETTING ABREAST OF IT
BOTTLE IT UP
GREEN BABY
SKIN SOLUTIONS
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
GOING SOLID
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
BABY ON THE MOVE
FASHION FORWARD
BREAK THE HABIT
SIBLING WARS
BOOK SMART
BEST BEDROOMS
FOOD FOES
UNDER THE WEATHER
PERFECT PLAY
TOP OF YOUR GAME
TRENDY TOTS
GET READY FOR SCHOOL
ACTING THEIR AGE
MAKE SCHOOL COOL
ALL GROWN UP?
CYBER SPACE
IMAGE CONSCIOUS
LOVE YOUR LUNCHBOX
I DO IT MY WAY
THE BIG PICTURE
BACK TO WORK
JOB QUEST
CAREER WITH KIDS
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...
NURSERY TALES
BODY BOOST
PET PROUD
KIDS’ STUFF
FAMILY FUN
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
COMING SOON
HELP ME NANNY JO!
SAFETY FIRST
WOW FACTOR
CRAFT CORNER
HOT OFFERS
STOCKISTS

AT Home with Jo Frost - July 2011