Comments on: Fourth graders feeling fat: The plummeting self-image of young girls http://www.about-face.org/fourth-graders-feeling-fat-the-plummeting-self-image-of-young-girls/ Tue, 21 May 2013 13:40:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Nancy http://www.about-face.org/fourth-graders-feeling-fat-the-plummeting-self-image-of-young-girls/#comment-656 Nancy Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:06:58 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1488#comment-656 It's startling to hear that the age girls care about the way they look is so young... 4! My goodness. I think it's also important that women do not tease other women about the way they look. Body image is so fragile now, that even a snarky remark from your best friend can really affect you. Really, if you don't like something about somebody, ignore it and tell them how much you like their eyes or smile or glow in their face... It’s startling to hear that the age girls care about the way they look is so young… 4! My goodness.

I think it’s also important that women do not tease other women about the way they look. Body image is so fragile now, that even a snarky remark from your best friend can really affect you. Really, if you don’t like something about somebody, ignore it and tell them how much you like their eyes or smile or glow in their face…

]]> By: Hallie http://www.about-face.org/fourth-graders-feeling-fat-the-plummeting-self-image-of-young-girls/#comment-655 Hallie Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:22:49 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1488#comment-655 At nine, I had a healthy, if childish, view of myself and my body. It was good to eat wheat bread and fruit instead of Wonder Bread and MilkyWays--this I knew and respected, and actually enjoyed, as I loved getting produce at the farmer's market with my parents. I still loved ice cream, though, and once or twice a week would have a candy bar after dinner or a small bowl of ice cream. I played softball and loved Capture the Flag. This mindset continued through fifth and sixth grade, though in sixth I fell into the habit of chocolate once a day and instant noodle soup twice or three times a week. It didn't influence my weight, as I was still physically active, and I didn't think anything of it. However, in seventh grade, I began thinking about my body more, and tried to eat less and excersise more. I shunned noodle soup and resisted chocolate; I often skipped lunch and eventually, after a cast party for the school play and a milkshake, I threw up. After this it only got worse and I continued to vomit and lose weight for about a month before my aunt noticed something wrong and my mother confronted me. I was relieved. I am now in eighth grade, and love my body. I have recognizable bust and hips, as well as a tummy that is mildly convex when I eat a big meal. I'm currently researching the psycology of eating disorders in order to better understand my experience, and also to channel it into my middle-school graduation project, a graphic novel about a girl with bulimia. This is a great article. At nine, I had a healthy, if childish, view of myself and my body. It was good to eat wheat bread and fruit instead of Wonder Bread and MilkyWays–this I knew and respected, and actually enjoyed, as I loved getting produce at the farmer’s market with my parents. I still loved ice cream, though, and once or twice a week would have a candy bar after dinner or a small bowl of ice cream. I played softball and loved Capture the Flag.

This mindset continued through fifth and sixth grade, though in sixth I fell into the habit of chocolate once a day and instant noodle soup twice or three times a week. It didn’t influence my weight, as I was still physically active, and I didn’t think anything of it.

However, in seventh grade, I began thinking about my body more, and tried to eat less and excersise more. I shunned noodle soup and resisted chocolate; I often skipped lunch and eventually, after a cast party for the school play and a milkshake, I threw up. After this it only got worse and I continued to vomit and lose weight for about a month before my aunt noticed something wrong and my mother confronted me.

I was relieved.

I am now in eighth grade, and love my body. I have recognizable bust and hips, as well as a tummy that is mildly convex when I eat a big meal. I’m currently researching the psycology of eating disorders in order to better understand my experience, and also to channel it into my middle-school graduation project, a graphic novel about a girl with bulimia.

This is a great article.

]]> By: A B O U T – F A C E — blog » Fourth graders feeling fat: The … - Posted In Exercise | Fitnesscool - Fitness Tips http://www.about-face.org/fourth-graders-feeling-fat-the-plummeting-self-image-of-young-girls/#comment-654 A B O U T – F A C E — blog » Fourth graders feeling fat: The … - Posted In Exercise | Fitnesscool - Fitness Tips Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:06:30 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1488#comment-654 [...] here:  A B O U T – F A C E — blog » Fourth graders feeling fat: The … Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...] [...] here:  A B O U T – F A C E — blog » Fourth graders feeling fat: The … Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...]

]]> By: sabrina http://www.about-face.org/fourth-graders-feeling-fat-the-plummeting-self-image-of-young-girls/#comment-653 sabrina Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:30:19 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1488#comment-653 It is shocking that young children feel so poorly about their bodies and themselves, and practice unhealthy behaviors. It is very important to talk to young girls about having healthy self-esteem and body image, but I think what is even more important is to be a strong, confident role model. Actions speak louder than words. A mother can't tell her daughter that her value doesn't depend on her weight, but then continue to obsess about dieting and exercising, or make comments about her own physical insecurities in front of her daughter. "Do as I say, not as I do" is not a constructive way to raise a healthy child. It is shocking that young children feel so poorly about their bodies and themselves, and practice unhealthy behaviors. It is very important to talk to young girls about having healthy self-esteem and body image, but I think what is even more important is to be a strong, confident role model.

Actions speak louder than words. A mother can’t tell her daughter that her value doesn’t depend on her weight, but then continue to obsess about dieting and exercising, or make comments about her own physical insecurities in front of her daughter. “Do as I say, not as I do” is not a constructive way to raise a healthy child.

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