Body image refers to people’s perceptions of, attitudes toward and feelings about their bodies. An individual’s body image is shaped by how their physical features compare with their understanding of ideal images of beauty and attractiveness prevalent in their culture and community. People of all genders can have positive or negative feelings about different aspects of their bodies, including their height, weight, hair and pretty much any other part of their body.

Many young people feel great pressure to have their bodies or specific body parts look a certain way; don’t underestimate how much pressure young people feel and how much self-loathing exists. Young people need help understanding that the images of beauty we see online, on TV and in magazines and movies are not real. It’s impossible for anyone to live up to these images that require teams of people to create and manipulate into idealized standards of beauty.