Risk and protective factors for eating, weight, and body image problems
How widespread is body dissatisfaction in the U.S.?
- About 80% of women and roughly 45 to 80% of men are dissatisfied or unhappy with their bodies.
- 46% of teen girls and 26% of teen boys suffer from body dissatisfaction (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005, p. 10 - From Project EAT and other large studies on teens and young adults.)
- Year before first grade: 48.5% girls want a larger body (Dohnt, H. and Tiggemann, M. 2006).
- 4th and 5th grade: 20-30% girls are concerned about weighing too much and are trying to get thinner (Go Girls, 1999, 2008).
- 40-60% of girls in high school perceive themselves to be overweight and are actively trying to change their bodies to lose weight. Approximately 10-15% of these girls can be considered "chronic dieters." Two-thirds of these girls are, in turn, not overweight. (Go Girls program, NEDA, 2008, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org)
- 80% of women in the U.S. are dissatisfied with their appearance (NEDA 2003-2005, www.NationalEatingDisorders.org)
- 50% of girls ages 12-14 are unhappy because they "feel fat" (NEDA 2003-2005)
