Optimus wellbeing podcast: body image and eating disorders

Body image is how we think and feel about our appearance, and how we think other people see us. Unfortunately, negative body image is on the rise – particularly amongst teenagers. Last year, a survey by the Mental Health Foundation found that almost a third of teenagers feel ashamed about their body image, four in ten worry about their body image because of images seen on social media and more than a third have stopped eating at some point or restricted their diet because of worries over the way they look. In this episode, we look at the factors contributing to negative body image, how this can affect mental health and what can be done to support children and young people.