"I don't eat anything at school. I want to lose weight!" – I recently overheard two young girls talking at the train station. I encounter the topic of young people wanting to lose weight again and again, both in my personal life and in my work as a prospective health scientist.
From my perspective, social media plays a central role in this, and I wonder why nothing is being done to combat the perceived beauty ideals on social media. Whether on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok – you constantly see slim, athletic women in bikinis and might ask yourself: "Why don't I look like that?"
Comparing is normal
I think everyone has compared themselves to others at some point – that's perfectly normal. However, it becomes a problem when young girls, and increasingly boys too, believe they have to look like that and start counting calories and exercising excessively.
The fact that these countless images on social media lead young people to feel overweight and have a distorted perception of their bodies is, in my view, very dangerous. This can result in underweight, psychological stress, and eating disorders with serious health consequences. Young people often define themselves solely by their bodies, which I find very unfortunate, because I believe that there is so much more to a person than just their physical appearance.
Here are some tips that I think might be helpful:
For young people:
- I'm sure this isn't easy, but you could think about who you follow on Instagram, for example, and whether these people make you doubt your own body.
- You can also try spending less time on social media – not always easy, but give it a try!
- Take a look around you! You'll quickly notice that the people in your surroundings, in your neighborhood or at your school don't look like the staged people on social media.
For parents:
- Sometimes it helps to ask yourselves how you feel about the topics of "body," "weight loss," and "diets." Having healthy body ideals that your child can use as a guide can help your child!
- Perhaps you're familiar with comments like "Chips again?" or "Haven't you had enough ice cream?" These rarely help. Try offering your child healthy finger foods like vegetable sticks with dip, apple slices, grapes, or a glass of water with a lemon slice.
- Cooking and eating together can also help build a healthy relationship with food. Why not cook together sometime?
- Try to keep talking to your child – it could be a first step if you wonder where your child's desire to lose weight comes from and what motivates them to take this step.
In addition to all this, children and young people, as well as their parents, should know that they are not alone. There are counseling centers where questions can be asked and help can be found, for example:
- Mädchenhaus Bremen eV (For girls* and young women*)
- Thunder Goats eV (For girls*, young women* and parents/relatives)
- Network Self-Help Bremen-North Lower Saxony eV.
- Parents' group for daughters and sons with eating disorders, Bremen
In addition, there are other nationwide contact points, such as:
- bke youth counselling (chat, forum, email counselling)
- bke parent counselling (forum, group chat, individual counselling)
- Helpline for Children and Young People
- Helpline for Parents'
- Eating disorders (BZgA)
- ANAD eV (For those affected and their families)
Of course, affected young people and their parents can contact local pediatricians and specialized child and adolescent psychiatrists or psychotherapists. For initial appointments, it is possible to contact the appointment service of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians . Most health insurance companies also offer information.
Or inquire at the Bremen family network about suitable positions.
Emmelie Rupp is in her fifth semester studying Public Health at the University of Bremen and is completing her internship at familiennetz bremen until February.