Why Do Teenage Girls Obsess Over Their Weight?

Expert Insight

• Females are far more likely than males to be airbrushed, slimmed down or otherwise altered to appear as close to a "perfect 10" as the media and handlers can produce. Teen girls who try to live up to such out-of-reach standards may suffer negative consequences such as mental health issues, compromised cognitive functioning and distorted beliefs about what makes a person beautiful, according to a February 2007 report issued by the American Psychological Association̵7;s Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls.

  A study published in 1999 in the journal "Pediatrics" determined that nearly 70 percent of 550 girls surveyed admitted that magazine photos had a significant impact on their perception of body shape and weight. Close to 50 percent of the fifth- through 12th-grade participants said looking at magazine photos made them want to lose weight.

Contributing Culprits

• Pretty faces photographed with a soft focus lens to mask imperfections and other "to die for" media images are only part of the reason a teen girl might become obsessed with her weight. Family members, peers and even coaches may drop hints or come right out and tell a teen she should look a certain way. For example, a mother might say "your pants look tighter" or "growing your hair out might make you look more slender." A coach may recommended dropping a few pounds to be a better gymnast or swimmer. Such derogatory comments can damage self-esteem and may prompt a teen to lose weight -- whether or not it's really necessary.

Problems

• Taking a deep breath and crossing her fingers as she tentatively glances at the number on the scale can make or ruin a day when a teen girl is obsessed about her weight. She may believe that losing weight will somehow make her "better." Some teen girls may take things a little too far and lose an unhealthy amount of weight. Anorexia nervosa and bulima are examples of potentially dangerous eating disorders. People who are anorexic eat a fraction of the food their bodiess need while bulimics eat a a great deal food -- usually over a short period of time -- then force themselves to vomit afterward.

Recommendations

• Parents can help their teen daughter worry less about her weight by focusing on what she is capable of doing -- such as running a seven-minute mile -- as well as pointing out her best features. For example, if your teen daughter has a healthy hourglass figure, remind her that a shapely body is a classic sign of femininity. Reassure your teen that no one -- not even the "raving beauties" seen in magazines -- are really perfect. Perhaps they have unusually large feet or thin hair that needs extensions to give their lackluster locks a fuller appearance.

Considerations

• Talk to your doctor if you genuinely believe that your teen daughter is overweight. In 2010, 18 percent of U.S. adolescents were obese, according to figures provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teens with honest-to-goodness weight problems tend to have low self-esteem and have fewer friends, explains the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology.