Body dissatisfaction in schoolkids ‘never been more critical’

Nearly half of Australian high school children have skipped school due to poor body image and the majority of them report that social media fuelled their insecurity.

Nearly half of Australian high school children have skipped school due to poor body image and the majority of them report that social media fuelled their insecurity, shock new research has revealed.

Butterfly Foundation education services expert Helen Bird said the foundation’s second annual Body Kind Youth Survey of 12 to 18-year-olds had never been more critical.

“This is yet more evidence that young people’s body image is having a profound impact on every aspect of their lives and prevention and early intervention is critical to improve outcomes,” Ms Bird said

The number of youths feeling body dissatisfaction due to social media has risen by 12 per cent since last year’s survey to 62 per cent.

Forty-nine per cent of the 3000 students surveyed said body dissatisfaction had stopped them from attending school and 57 per cent reported feeling dissatisfied with their body.

“Young people’s experience of teasing remains a significant issue, with the majority (77 per cent) saying they have received negative comments or been teased about their appearance, most frequently at school, followed by home and on social media,” Ms Bird said.

“Unsurprisingly, across the two years of the survey, young people have consistently called for more body image support at school and on social media.

“It’s crucial that we listen to what they have to say, so we can collectively work towards a future of a more Body Kind Australia that supports young people to thrive mentally and physically in their bodies.”

QUT students Asha Enders (left) and Georgie Pryor. Picture: David Clark

Queensland University of Technology students Asha Enders and Georgie Pryor, both 19, graduated from high school in 2022 and said they had witnessed the impacts of social media on students’ body positivity.

Ms Enders said being exposed to influencers and models gave a skewed idea of expectations.

“It’s sad but I do think this is a common experience especially in women and a big part of growing up,” she said.

Ms Enders said she knew people who had eating disorders in high school.

“And I even remember having conversations with friends like, ‘Oh should I wear this or do I look fat in it?’ ” she said.

Ms Pryor said she would sometimes catch herself having unrealistic expectations.

“At the end of the day I’d just think, ‘This is a 30-year-old (influencer) and I’m a teenage girl,’ ” she said.

“You’re just so consumed about popularity and wanting to fit in.”

Ms Pryor said there were girls in her cohort who struggled with body image and mental health issues made worse by social media.

“Especially when we went to a group event and there’d be pictures being taken and people would say, ‘Oh no don’t post that, I look horrible in that,’ or ‘I look fat in that’ when they actually looked fine,” she said.

Butterfly’s 2024 Paying the Price report revealed an 86 per cent rise in eating disorders among young people aged 10 to 19 since 2012.

The Body Kind Youth Survey was supported by the nib foundation.

Butterfly Foundation national helpline 1800 33 4673

DAMNING FIGURES

* 57 per cent were dissatisfied with their body

* 49 per cent said body dissatisfaction stopped them attending school.

* 78 per cent wished they were thinner or leaner.

* 62 per cent said social media made them feel dissatisfied with their body

* 80 per cent believe primary schools must do more

Source: Butterfly Foundation (2024 survey 3000 schoolchildren 12 to 18 years)

Originally published as Body dissatisfaction in schoolkids ‘never been more critical’