Consequences of a negative body image

Teenagers who have negative thoughts about their bodies are at increased risk of:

• Low self-esteem
• Depression
• Nutrition and growth issues
• Eating disorders
• Having a body mass index of 30 or higher (obesity)

In addition, some teenagers might try to control their weight by smoking, taking nutritional supplements to "bulk up," or change their appearance by buying beauty products or getting cosmetic surgery.

Spending time worrying about their bodies and how they measure up can also take away from teenagers' ability to concentrate on other pursuits.