Common questions about body confidence
What is body confidence?
Body confidence is when someone accepts, appreciates, and thinks and behaves positively in relation to their body and appearance.
Why does body confidence matter?
People who lack body confidence are likely to have less confidence in general, which can hold them back from achieving their full potential. They are also likely to be less physically healthy and are more vulnerable mental health issues.
Is it just an issue for girls?
Body confidence has been seen as a greater issue for girls than for boys in the past, but it is increasingly an issue for boys too, who feel the need to have a ‘perfect’ look as promoted by advertisements, TV and social media.
Recent research by the Be Real campaign has shown that 89% of students (boys and girls) aged 11 to 16 have concerns about their looks. Most students (99%) have done or would consider doing something to change their looks (ranging from moderate to extreme measures). 73% have done/would consider doing more drastic actions (e.g. diets, protein shakes, meal replacement shakes, tanning or cosmetic surgery). In recent research, 40% of boys said that they had used, or would consider using, protein shakes to change their appearance.
What can I do to improve my body confidence?
Just a few small changes can start you on your journey to feeling more positive about your body.
- Talk to yourself and about yourself positively. (And check your friends and family when you notice them talking negatively, whether about themselves or others, too!)
- Focus on what your body can do rather than what it looks like.
- Make sure your social media is a body positive place. Check out our list of #BeRealApproved influencers and accounts and make sure the posts you’re seeing are authentic and inspiring.