Body image refers to how you think and feel about your body. When you are comfortable and feel good about your body, these positive feelings create confidence to support a healthy self-esteem.
Accepting and recognizing that healthy bodies come in a variety of weights, shapes, and sizes and that individuals all have unique strengths and abilities, supports a positive attitude related to body image.
To help young people to think and feel positively about their bodies, schools play an important role in nurturing and creating a healthy school culture that celebrates body diversity. Teaching and learning opportunities related to the enjoyment of physical activity and eating combined with supportive social and physical environments enhance body acceptance.
In 2021, about 46% of Ontario youth in grades 7-12 reported concerns about food, weight, and body image (OSDUHS, 2022). These types of concerns can lead to disordered eating as people often turn to dieting to try to change their bodies and feel better about themselves. When people do not eat a variety of foods or start missing meals, their physical and mental health can be affected. Young people are growing and need the right amount of nutrients to be healthy. Weight is a complex issue and an individual’s health cannot and should not be assessed through their weight. In the past, messaging and education have focused on weight, now there is a shift to promote body/food neutrality, physical activity, and mental well-being for people of all sizes.
Body neutrality means to neither love nor hate your body. It focuses on respecting and accepting one’s body as it is, in that moment. The concept started to help people build a healthier balance between food and exercise. It is centred around highlighting the body’s function and what it can do rather than how it looks. Food neutrality means that we are removing the moral value that has been placed on foods. That means dropping the labels like “good”, “bad”, “healthy” or “unhealthy” and just calling foods by their name: “carrots”, “jellybeans”, “chicken” etc. Food neutrality is not saying that all foods have the same nutrition, rather, it puts all food on a level playing field. Food is many things – it is fuel (energy), it is social, and it is cultural. All these factors are valuable. Teaching kids about food neutrality as early as possible is a great step toward helping them develop a more positive relationship with food. Further, research shows that using these food labels does not decrease a child’s intake of them, but rather builds an unhealthy relationship with those foods.
Using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework, schools, school boards, parents, and community partners can work together to develop healthy school environments that promote and support student well-being. Key resources and supports are organized below following this framework.
Resources & Information for:
Resources
- Ophea- Creating a Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment (French): Tips are given on how to talk about healthier food choices.
- Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH)- Addressing Weight Bias: A Call to Action (Available in French): A resource to increase understanding of what is weight bias, its effects, and how to reduce it. It touches on how to reframe our messages.
- K5 Hidden Peak Education: Body Image, Human Development, Health Education Children, Self-Care Well-being Diversity Awareness: A video designed for grade 3 to identify factors that affect physical development, social-emotional development, and the development of a healthy body image.
- York Region: Help Children and Youth Feel Good About Themselves: Expands on the balanced approach to healthy living. It is important to keep what we say and do positive.
- jessie’s legacy- Promoting Positive Body Image- A Resource for Educators: Tips given to deal with weight-based bullying and what to do if school staff is concerned about a student’s eating. Resources and teaching tools suggestions to promote positive body image.
- Association for Size Diversity and Health-Poodle Science: A animated video designed for older secondary students exposing the limitations of current research on weight and health. We are not all supposed to look the same, and what is helpful for one person can be harmful to another.
- Hamilton Health Sciences- Body Image: A video that explains body image and things that affect feeling confident. Health can be achieved at every size and let’s celebrate body diversity by focusing on all aspects (i.e., strengths, personality, talents, etc.) of what makes everyone unique.
Lessons and Activities
- Media Smarts.ca- Body Image: A Canadian website with a wide range of media and web literacy resources for teachers and parents/guardians. It is evidence-based and user-friendly. Just narrow down your grade and topic. Available in French.
- PHE Canada- Fad Diet Detectives: Support to help students in grades 7 to 11 recognize fad diets, identify potential problems, and discuss how healthy lifestyle changes are a better option. Also available in French.
- National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC)- Beyond Images: Provides online lessons for grades 4 through 8. The lesson plans provide an opportunity to explore key issues today around body image and self-esteem as well as media messaging while developing critical thinking skills. Also, in French.
- Ophea (French): Free online resources to support educators in implementing the Ontario Health and Physical Activity Curriculum (Grades 1-12), including lesson plans and resources regarding body image and self-esteem. Must create an account to access resources.
- Dove- Confident Me: Workshops that aim to boost youth’s body confidence. Teachers are provided with guides, slides, activity sheets, and short videos to support 11- 15-year-olds.
- BANA- Virtual Presentations: Free presentations that cover various topics including self-esteem and body image, and size acceptance. Your school board has approved these; contact BANA to arrange for these now being offered in person.
- Ophea- Healthy Schools Certification (French Version): Gives your school the tools to promote and enhance the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader school community. Contact your school's nurse at 519-258-2146 x 1555 for more information on how they can support your school in achieving a Healthy Schools Certification.
- Nutrition Connections- Food and Body Talk: The Power of Language to Shape Children’s Mental Health: This 2 to 3-hour certificate course is designed for educators to raise awareness of the negative impact that normalized language about food and bodies can have on the mental health of children and youth. It offers practical tips to foster both physical and mental well-being. This course has a fee.
- NEDIC (National Eating Disorders Information Centre)- Body Image and Self-Esteem Backgrounder for Teachers: This backgrounder touches on important concepts for teachers and frames some school-wide practices to have in place.
- Eating Disorders Awareness Week: Join in national activities early in February. Guidance coming from NEDIC (National Eating Disorder Information Centre).
- Consider lighting up a landmark in purple or wearing purple clothes to show your support for Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
- NEDIC- Feeling Good about our Bodies and Our Selves Tip Sheet: A tip sheet for students.
- Media Smarts- Making Your School a Commercial-free Zone: Have students organize an Advertising Treasure Hunt or a No Logo Day to increase awareness about the commercialization of their school. Available in French.
- Dove- Proud to Be Me: A resource for youth groups and leaders that focuses on building confidence, especially for LGBTQ2S youth. French available.
- LG&LDHU- Clever Replies to Damaging Remarks: A sheet about ways to respond positively to comments about weight.
School Campaigns and Social Media
- SEL(Social and Emotional Learning)space- Body Image High School: Modules and videos about self-awareness and body image that are for secondary students. Videos and campaigns that students can implement in their school or on social media. Available in French.
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Ontario Community Outreach Program for Eating Disorders- Guidelines for Prevention:
Outlined is an approach on how schools can prevent eating disorders among students. Details are expanded on what the prevention approach should include: having adults realize their attitudes and how that impacts food, weight and shape, as well as weight bias and weight science literacy; individual skill building to help stop pressures to conform to appearance ideals; and ways to create supportive environments, free of weight-based bullying.- Eating Disorders Promotion, Prevention, and Early Intervention- Overview of Disordered Eating Prevention – How can schools help?: Messages and advice on how to help create supportive environments. Also provided are links to support the curriculum (both English and French) and notes of caution.
- Mentally Healthy Schools- Body Image: This resource provides the definition of body image as well as some context about how body image can affect mental health. It discusses body dysmorphia, and what schools can do to promote body positivity.
- York, Nutrition Matters- Information about Dieting for Teachers and Parents of Tweens and Teens: This resource discusses what dieting is, how it can be harmful to growing bodies, and what can be done.
Support in our community
- Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: Provides contact information related to help lines and counselling in Windsor-Essex County. A downloadable and printable resource to share that has information on various community agencies.
- Kids Help Phone (French): A webpage to build some skills and if you need to chat about self-esteem or body image issues with a trained, volunteer Crisis Responder text CONNECT to 686868.
- BANA- (The Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association): Supports community groups and summer camps also available to provide workshops related to self-esteem, body image, media influences, size acceptance, and more.
- weCHC- Teen Health Centre: This is one place where counselling is offered for youth between 12 and 24 years old affected by disordered eating.
Other Supports and Resources
- Health811: Speak to a dietitian free by dialing 811 or visiting online.
- National Eating Disorders Information Centre (NEDIC)- Specific Considerations for Parents and Caregivers: Provides information and tips about eating disorders plus links to a guide.
- Get Help NEDIC: Anyone can call 1-866-NEDIC (63342)-20 or live chat to get advice on accessing help for themselves or supporting someone (like a child) who they are concerned about with regards to an eating disorder. Check their website for hours of operation.
- UCONN RUDD CENTER- How to Talk to Your Child About Weight Bias: A small booklet to guide parents in supporting their child who is experiencing weight-based teasing or bullying.
- Dove- Confident Me at Home: Self-Esteem Activities for Home Learning: Aims to help young people ages 8 to 16 navigate the world of social media and raise their self-esteem while learning at home.
- jessie’s legacy- Overlap Between Anxiety and Eating Disorders Infographic: A resource for parents and families (a BC program) to offer support and education.
- jessie’s legacy- Body Image and Self-Esteem Factsheet: A Guide for Parents & Youth.
- jessie’s legacy- Young Men and Eating Disorders Factsheet: A Guide for Parents & Youth.
- Dove- Roblox game: Super U Story is the first designed video game to support people that identify themselves as young women with tools needed to combat negative self-esteem.
Support in our community
- Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: Provides contact information related to help lines and counselling in Windsor-Essex County. A downloadable and printable resource to share that has information on various community agencies.
- Kids Help Phone (French): A webpage to build some skills and if you need to chat about self-esteem or body image issues with a trained, volunteer Crisis Responder text CONNECT to 686868.
- BANA- (The Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association): Supports community groups and summer camps also available to provide workshops related to self-esteem, body image, media influences, size acceptance, and more.
- weCHC- Teen Health Centre: This is one place where counselling is offered for youth between 12 and 24 years old affected by disordered eating.
Other Supports and Resources
- Health811: Speak to a dietitian free by dialing 811 or visiting online.
- National Eating Disorders Information Centre (NEDIC)- Specific Considerations for Parents and Caregivers: Provides information and tips about eating disorders plus links to a guide.
- Get Help NEDIC: Anyone can call 1-866-NEDIC (63342)-20 or live chat to get advice on accessing help for themselves or supporting someone (like a child) who they are concerned about with regards to an eating disorder. Check their website for hours of operation.
- UCONN RUDD CENTER- How to Talk to Your Child About Weight Bias: A small booklet to guide parents in supporting their child who is experiencing weight-based teasing or bullying.
- Dove- Confident Me at Home: Self-Esteem Activities for Home Learning: Aims to help young people ages 8 to 16 navigate the world of social media and raise their self-esteem while learning at home.
- jessie’s legacy- Overlap Between Anxiety and Eating Disorders Infographic: A resource for parents and families (a BC program) to offer support and education.
- jessie’s legacy- Body Image and Self-Esteem Factsheet: A Guide for Parents & Youth.
- jessie’s legacy- Young Men and Eating Disorders Factsheet: A Guide for Parents & Youth.
- Dove- Roblox game: Super U Story is the first designed video game to support people that identify themselves as young women with tools needed to combat negative self-esteem.
- NEDIC- Feeling Good about our Bodies and Our Selves Tip Sheet: A tip sheet for students.
- Media Smarts- Making Your School a Commercial-free Zone: Have students organize an Advertising Treasure Hunt or a No Logo Day to increase awareness about the commercialization of their school. Available in French.
- Dove- Proud to Be Me: A resource for youth groups and leaders that focuses on building confidence, especially for LGBTQ2S youth. French available.
- LG&LDHU- Clever Replies to Damaging Remarks: A sheet about ways to respond positively to comments about weight.
School Campaigns and Social Media
- SEL(Social and Emotional Learning)space- Body Image High School: Modules and videos about self-awareness and body image that are for secondary students. Videos and campaigns that students can implement in their school or on social media. Available in French.
Support in our community
- Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: Provides contact information related to help lines and counselling in Windsor-Essex County. A downloadable and printable resource to share that has information on various community agencies.
- Kids Help Phone (French): A webpage to build some skills and if you need to chat about self-esteem or body image issues with a trained, volunteer Crisis Responder text CONNECT to 686868.
- BANA- (The Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association): Supports community groups and summer camps also available to provide workshops related to self-esteem, body image, media influences, size acceptance, and more.
- weCHC- Teen Health Centre: This is one place where counselling is offered for youth between 12 and 24 years old affected by disordered eating.
Other Supports and Resources
- Health811: Speak to a dietitian free by dialing 811 or visiting online.
- National Eating Disorders Information Centre (NEDIC)- Specific Considerations for Parents and Caregivers: Provides information and tips about eating disorders plus links to a guide.
- Get Help NEDIC: Anyone can call 1-866-NEDIC (63342)-20 or live chat to get advice on accessing help for themselves or supporting someone (like a child) who they are concerned about with regards to an eating disorder. Check their website for hours of operation.
- UCONN RUDD CENTER- How to Talk to Your Child About Weight Bias: A small booklet to guide parents in supporting their child who is experiencing weight-based teasing or bullying.
- Dove- Confident Me at Home: Self-Esteem Activities for Home Learning: Aims to help young people ages 8 to 16 navigate the world of social media and raise their self-esteem while learning at home.
- jessie’s legacy- Overlap Between Anxiety and Eating Disorders Infographic: A resource for parents and families (a BC program) to offer support and education.
- jessie’s legacy- Body Image and Self-Esteem Factsheet: A Guide for Parents & Youth.
- jessie’s legacy- Young Men and Eating Disorders Factsheet: A Guide for Parents & Youth.
- Dove- Roblox game: Super U Story is the first designed video game to support people that identify themselves as young women with tools needed to combat negative self-esteem.