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Body image issues in teenagers low self esteem
Effects of body image on young people
Effects of body image on young people
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A challenge that I have faced over the past six years has been my weight. I was underweight until about fifth grade, that's when I started gaining lots of weight. During junior high, I was self-conscious about myself. For physical education, I had to change in front of strangers. This made me extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed. I was withdrawn and had low self-esteem, which made me perform subpar to what I was capable of. Before I got up in the classroom, I came up with a detailed plan on how to maneuver through the desks. I did not want anyone to notice me and I did not want to bump into desks. I did not dress to draw attention in any way, I took so much time out of my day to get people not to notice me. In high school, my weight continued
The article “Rethinking Weight” was written by Amanda Spake, and is about the hardships of losing weight and keeping it off. She makes note of the fact that healthy weight loss (medically supervised, slow and gradual weight loss) is in a completely unfair playing field against fast weight loss. She also talks about whether obesity should be classified as a disease so that it will get better treatment in the medical field. The article “Fat and Happy: In Defense of Fat Acceptance” was written by Mary Ray Worley, and is about learning to live in a “new world” as the author, Worley, describes it. This new world is one she experienced while at a NAAFA (National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance) convention. The articles are really about addiction
Ever since I was in middle school, people always told me that I’m quiet and shy. Having said that, I never felt comfortable communicating with people I didn't know that well. That also includes speaking or presenting in front of a class. According to my family and friends, I’m the complete opposite, because they claim that I’m talkative. Being shy and nervous did affect my schoolwork. I wouldn’t raise my hand in class that often, because I didn’t feel comfortable enough. When I was in 6th grade, my teacher would always call up students to share something they liked about a story they read. When the teacher called out my name, my heart started pounding, my hands were shaking and my mind went completely blank. I was so nervous to the point where I felt like I was going to pass out any moment. That’s when I asked the teacher if I could excuse myself to go to the bathroom. She didn’t mind that request so I tried to calm myself down by washing my face and breathing. After class, my teacher and I discussed my inability to present in front of a class. She was obliging, because she agreed to help me overcome being shy and to help boost my self-confidence. Shyness and nervousness also stopped me from participating in activities and obtaining opportunities. In 10th grade, my Chemistry teacher suggested a film festival, because she was aware that I loved filmmaking. At first, I considered the idea, because I’ve never done anything like it before. Having thought about it, I then realized that I was going to have my movie up on a full screen where
Under certain circumstances, being tormented about one's weight can be the foundation of other issues as well. For children growing up it can be especially difficult. There can be many social issues involved as far as making friends and participating in various group activities. Once school is finished, finding a job can be another challenge. By reason that the person may feel they are not good enough and furthermore may be apprehensive of the interview process.
Middle school was immensely difficult time for me. I had glasses and braces and in sixth and seventh grade went through an exceedingly at a maladroit stage. My comrades did an exceptional job of making those two years a living Tartarus. I’m currently twenty-one, but I still cringe when I contemplate about some of the unpleasant incidents I suffered with other kids during those years. I was a marvelous athlete. The only time the “cool kids” would be “semi-nice” is when I was tremendously superb at basketball. In the 8th grade I transferred schools to a Christian school and began to come out of my awkward looking phase. I received contacts and extracted my braces. It would seem that I would be awarded some confidence at this, but my self-esteem was nevertheless damaged. I made several friends and was in no way speculated there as “the ...
Middle school and high school was very difficult for me. I was always categorized as a freak, Goth, or Satan worshiper. I did not wish to be categorized in any of those groups. Over the years I have been turned away by many people. They think that I am a freak and that I will cast a spell on them or something. At lunch time, I would be the kid who sat all the way at the last table. I would sit all the way in one of the corners on the edge of the table. I remember this one time at lunch in 9th grade this girl threw something at me because she did not like my shirt. I cried the whole bus ride home. I did not understand why someone would do that to some one. I did not talk to no one.
The personal challenge that I faced mainly dealt with my health. Ever since I was child, I was very sick physically. The doctor recommended that I not play or participate in any type of sports because of my poor health. This led to a lack of confidence in myself to perform my best. I have always thought that there was a barrier somewhere in my life, and I could not pass that barrier because if I did then my life would certainly be in ruins. I was raised with the philosophies of the Chinese. I was told that no one could perform many tasks at once and be successful. Ever since, I always have an image that if I participated in activities at school then I would do poorly in my school work. I never pushed my limits to the maximum to challenge myself. It was as if there was a wall standing in front of me blocking me from being successful. I was always afraid that the consequences might be permanent and my grades would drop.
The start of a new school year as a freshmen in high school away from my hometown. Everyone is anxious for this new and fresh start meeting new people and friends. I’m on my way to school very nervous and worried that they might laugh at me. As soon as I enter the class late, everyone stops and stares at me; I walk down the aisle to the nearest empty seat. I sat down quietly throughout my classes in fear that they might notice I’m a, “funny talker,” or that they laugh at me. Everyone avoided talking to me, seat next to me, or even do projects with me. I don’t have a contagious disease; I’m like every other ordinary girl in school. I work hard for my grades, I join organizations, I have no disability, I have control of my body, but I can’t control my stuttering. I’ve had this speech disorder since I was younger. I always had trouble making friends because I stress out and get anxiety trying
Christmas eve ended with me crying on our living room floor because my mom wanted me to eat just one of her famous sugar cookies. Her cookies had always been one of my favorite Christmas traditions, but this year when I looked at the cookies, all I could see were calories and guilt. They smelled and looked delicious, but just the thought of taking one bite filled me with anxiety and fear. I consider this the moment I realized my eating disorder had completely taken over my life. I had become obsessed with calories and weight as a way to feel in control of my life and gain confidence. In reality, my eating disorder had slowly stripped me of my independence, health, and happiness. After that Christmas, I finally decided to seek help after months of struggling, and at the age of 17, I began an intensive outpatient treatment program.
That wasn't exactly the case. Years elapsed. I got older. Puberty and life hit me. I was at that age where people start dating, going to parties, and do other activities. Surgery left me with scars that I wanted to keep a secret. It changed the way I dressed, what I thought about myself, and my social life. I did not want to wear anything that would reveal my scars. I never went swimming. I never had a boyfriend. I felt left out all the time. While everyone was out having fun, I was home alone. I was afraid to make friends or do things because I feared rejection and embarrassment. I was constantly worried of what others would think. One day I was waiting in the lunch line, and these girls behind me asked (loudly) why I walked so weird. They were laughing at me. I was humiliated. It wasn’t just a crooked back for me. When I looked in the mirror all I saw were my flaws. I saw an asymmetrical waistline. I saw a still slightly curved back. I saw my
I know I should lose weight. It requires a lot of perseverance that I one time had and need to find again. Many of the reasons I should lose weight are very clear to me. I have read many articles and have heard what my doctor has told me. I lost over forty pounds about three years ago, unfortunately, I gained it back two fold when I was pregnant with my daughter. I still have not been able to get rid of this weight since she was born. Sometimes it causes me to get tired just from going to the grocery store. I also found out in September of last year that I have hypertension (high blood pressure) which effected my vision drastically by the following November. Other problems are social such as the way some people look at me in public and the way I view myself. Three the possible effects of losing weight would be gaining energy, better health, and having a better physical appearance.
It is not an unknown fact that in today’s society many adolescents are dissatisfied and ashamed of their own body size. Bombarded with social media’s ideal body type and lofty, unattainable standards on a daily bases young adults are always fighting an uphill battle for self-worth. They are expected to constantly jump through pop culture’s skintight size two hoops in an attempt to avoid the growing stigma of an “unsatisfactory body size”. With the constant negative stereotyping of heavier set individuals, society has instilled in young people an inherit dislike for larger body types causing prejudice solely based on the size of an individual’s clothes. It seems the harmful trend of low self-esteem and weight based prejudice is an unavoidable issue for our current society as a whole transcending the gap of both the genders, the races, and, as a study so recently showed, the ages.
My most significant challenge that I have faced is getting better grades in school. The
Health is a big concern in society. Of all the infomercials and health program that are out there may seem as a challenge to some. Nevertheless, a good common sense should tell us healthy habits could be quite simple. Losing weight is not as difficult as it sounds. To lose weight there’s needs for a structure that must be followed. Things such as nutrition, activity, money saving and sleeping habits could be easily to obtained.
... the hallways. The most uncommon experience is having people point at me in streets warning their children not to be like me, but I am a very confident individual, and I am determined to go on with my life and show everyone that this little setback is not going to stop me from being an achiever in life.
Adding exercises into one’s daily routines can change their whole lifestyle. Many people look at exercise as being something just for people who want to lose weight or to become muscle bound, but there are a great deal of benefits that can be received from exercising regularly. Of course gaining muscle and losing fat are the two most popular reasons that usually attract people to the gym, but they make up a small part of the potential benefits that can be achieved with exercise. There are several ways in which I have benefited in my life from exercising regularly, besides just making me bigger and stronger. It has made me become more organized, helped me make better decisions, and motivated me to take on new challenges in life.