By: Lorena, 16, Toronto

Youth everywhere are in constant search of a costly, dangerous and obsessive concept: The perfect body. Body image is how you see and feel about yourself, and in today's society the pressure to be and look perfect is overwhelming. Finding a problem or fault with a body seems to have become an obsession, and a new pastime for most teenagers. According to information by Columbia University, each year teenage girls spend billions on the latest fashion and beauty products. Research done at Exeter University in the U.K. in 1998 revealed that almost all the girls cared about their appearance more than anything. It also found that 90% of teenage girls constantly worry about their body image, which leads to the 5-10 million girls in North America that have eating disorders, such as bulimia (binge eating), and anorexia (eating less and less until you have no desire for food at all.) Psychologist Marcia Hutchinson did a survey of 33,000 women from ages 18-35 and found 75% believed they were fat, even though only 25% were actually overweight. The University of Alberta found that most women think they are larger than they actually are!

Teenage boys are usually left out of this topic. However, most teenage boys also feel the pressure to be physically attractive and also strong. Nowadays, the pressure for men to look built and have great muscles is so strong that some feel the need to resort to anabolic steroids and growth hormones. According to research done by the University of Alberta, men make up approximately 10-15% of people who have eating disorders. Boys are just as likely to diet and over exercise as women are, because fat (even baby fat) on men is a sign of weakness, and not considered masculine. And who is driving young people's obsession with the perfect body? The media is one answer. The media forces teens to compare themselves to the beautiful, strong and thin people seen on T.V. everyday. Yet Hollywood airbrushing and make-up artist techniques are hard to achieve for all teens, boys and girls! A psychological study in 1995 by UC Berkley revealed that 3 minutes spent looking at magazines and the "perfect" models in it caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty, and shameful of their own appearance.

It's a hard and sad reality, but teens need to understand there is no such thing as the perfect body. Every person has their own beautiful body that they need to be happy with and accept; no media influence, no drugs, no pressure, just you!