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Self Image Obsession

With boys trying to bulk up and girls trying to slim down, it is almost hard to believe that anyone is comfortable in their own skin. Low calorie fad diets, excess exercising, and unrealistic images of men and women flood young minds as they progress into the growing generation of unhealthy weight loss.

As girls grow older, they are bombarded by unrealistically thin women and the thought that being thin is how they should look.

“About 40% of 10-11 year old girls want to lose weight,” according to a story on huffingtonpost.com. “That number rises to 54% for 12 and 13 year old girls and a stunning 63% among 14 and 15 year olds.”

The older girls get, the more it appears that they want to change their body image and lose weight.

Although looking thin may be the ideal image for a growing girl, it could also result in many unwanted side effects.

According to www.nationaleatingdisorders.org, girls that do not provide themselves with the necessary nutrients needed may experience “muscle loss and weakness, dry skin and hair loss, abnormally slow heart rate, low blood pressure, reduction of bone density making them brittle, and overall weakness.”

Girls going through this weight loss craze may not be aware that they are putting extra stress on their bodies and ruining their already beautiful attributes and characteristics.

It may be more common to hear of girls wanting to change their body image, but on the flip side, boys are equally interested in their personal appearance.

As boys see more and more muscular men in magazines and on television shows, they begin chasing an illusionary model of manhood. But what they do not know is that they may be doing more detrimental harm to their developing bodies than self-pleasing results.

According to www.nytimes.com, filling their bodies with muscle growth supplements and excess exercise “could stunt a growing boy’s growth.”

Losing weight could be beneficial to one’s health, however losing too much weight could be detrimental.

“I think that if anyone were looking to lose weight, they should maybe see a doctor and get their perspective on it,” said freshman, Merrie Dyckman. “Other than that exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet will be best for anyone going through a weight loss journey.”