Display Problems?

"Everybody says I’m in shape, but every time I look at myself in the mirror I see myself as fat. Sometimes I don’t eat because I feel too fat and unsure about myself. I want to stop feeling this way, what should I do? "

- from Arely

Different people see things from different perspectives. So having different interpretations of something (especially your appearance) can certainly be confusing and frustrating.

Teens want to be attractive to others and often feel pressured through media images and peer influences to try to achieve the "perfect body" - although this is rarely realistic or achievable. Adolescents usually value and trust what their friends and family tell them, but they also want to feel good about themselves and make their own decisions.

Some thoughts and habits you describe, such as "seeing yourself as fat" and skipping meals, can be common teen phase that will pass by without causing any health problems. But, fixating on these types of things can lead to unhealthy eating habits and dangerous dieting, or a true eating disorder. Teens can become overly concerned about their looks and about dieting, so that they deny that they have an eating disorder.

This is a good time for you to set healthy and realistic body-image goals for yourself. One approach to this would include discussing your ideas and feelings with your close friends and family, and seeking recommendations from health professionals who are knowledgeable about teenagers, nutrition, growth, and fitness.

Everyone has something they would like to change about themselves. However, understanding what can be changed, as well as what can’t be changed, is really the more important lesson. Being attractive to others has a lot to do with liking yourself and being confident about how you see yourself.

Get more information about eating disorders and improving your body image in the Pressures section. Or read these Girls' Journals for more persectives from girls your age.

Information on this Web site is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional.

About the Doctors

The experts who respond to your questions are consultants to the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. They have been selected to answer your questions based on their background and expertise. Their responses are their own and they have not been edited by ONDCP or the Media Campaign. To find out more about these doctors, visit their bios.

Brought to you by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign