Young people in Australia call for more support to tackle body image issues
We’ve partnered with Butterfly Foundation for the second year of their Body Kind Youth Survey, to better understand body image among young people. Now we have the findings.
Butterfly Foundation has revealed the results from their second Body Kind Youth Survey, which is creating a national data set on young people and their relationship with their bodies.
In 2023 with our funding support, over 2,900 young people aged 12-18 across Australia responded to the survey. The findings are concerning, with over half (57%) being dissatisfied with how their body looks, up 11% from the 2022 results.
They also found that:
95% of young people reported some level of concern about their body image.
Around three quarters wished they were thinner or leaner (78%), or more muscular (71%).
49% reported that their body dissatisfaction stopped them from going to school.
The survey results provide an important snapshot of the impact of body image on different demographics, with more males reporting high levels of body dissatisfaction in 2023, while females, gender diverse and LGB+ youth continue to report the highest body dissatisfaction overall.
With body dissatisfaction a leading risk factor in the development of an eating disorder, and Butterfly’s recent Paying the Price report revealing an 86% rise in eating disorders among young people aged 10 to 19 years since 2012, these results demonstrate the strong impact body image has on every aspect of young people’s lives.
Consistent with 2022 results, body dissatisfaction limited many young people’s involvement in sport, social activities and speaking up about what matters to them.
Over half of young people said their body image had stopped them to some extent from raising their hand in class and focusing on school work.
82% reported it impacted on them going to the beach.
69% going shopping for clothes.
65% doing a physical activity/sport.
A number of risk factors contribute to this level of dissatisfaction, with social media still the most significant. Almost two thirds (62%) of young people said social media made them feel dissatisfied with their bodies (12% more than last years’ results), yet three quarters (75%) said they never take a break from social media because it was affecting how they felt about their body. Young people’s experience of appearance teasing also remains a significant issue, with the majority (77%) saying they have received negative comments, or been teased, about their appearance, most frequently at school (77%), followed by home (38%) and on social media (33%).
Across the two years of the survey young people have consistently called for more body image support at school and on social media. Butterfly’s strength-based programs provide children and young people evidence-based strategies and tools to support a positive body image. These include Butterfly-led school and community presentations and workshops, Butterfly Body Bright for primary schools, their Body Kind initiative for schools, families and sporting clubs, and the soon-to-be-released Body Kind Online Education digital learning program for secondary students.
nib foundation is proud to support Butterfly Foundation, as earlier interventions to promote better body image are essential to reducing the risk of eating disorders for young people, and help them have positive relationships with their bodies throughout their lives.
To find out more about the survey results, or to check out Butterfly Foundation’s resources and services, click here, opens in a new tab
If this has raised any concerns for you regarding body image issues or an eating disorder, please call Butterfly Foundation National Helpline on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) email [email protected], opens in a new tab, or chat online at www.butterfly.org.au, opens in a new tab
