Whether you have a positive or negative body image can affect how you feel about yourself.

What Is Body Image?

Body image is how you imagine you look and how you feel about your own body. Are you comfortable with how you look or do feel sad that you look how you do? Body image and self-esteem are connected: often low self-esteem is shown by having a poor body image, but then again having a poor body image can also lead to low self-esteem.

How Can I Look Like People In Magazines?

Nearly all of us would like to look better, thinner, taller, have different coloured hair. It’s easy to feel this way when it seems like everyone in the media is perceived as being ‘perfect’ and flawless. However, the images you see in the glossies and tabloids are usually not the same as they were when they were photographed:

Photo-editing software means that people working on magazines can get rid of spots, wrinkles, make people look thinner, whiten teeth etc.

Sometimes models and actors ask for certain things to be air-brushed as they too don’t feel comfortable with the way they look.

Dove Campaign For Real Beauty - If you want to get an idea of how a model is transformed for a magazine shoot, have a look at the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty Evolution film. It’s a bit of an insight into just how 'perfect' models really are.

Healthy Weight

If you are worried about your weight have a look at our Healthy Eating section, you’ll find information on good food and keeping healthy. There are loads of links to useful organisations who can give you more information and support.

Body Mass Index (BMI) calculators can help give you a rough idea of whether you are overweight or not, but remember that they don’t take things like body type into account. You can find a BMI calculator at the BBC Health Website.

If you want to know what a healthy weight should be for you, based on a variety of factors not just height and weight, it is best to consult a health professional such as your local nurse or GP. They can also give you further tips and advice on how to maintain a healthy weight. BMI readings should never be taken by themselves, especially when you are a young person as your weight will fluctuate more frequently than that of an older person.