Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Body Image in Young Adults

Young adults can fall into the trap of wanting to look thin, like models or actors, which can lead to disordered eating and exercise behaviors. Some common signs of disordered eating are not eating enough, eating too much, being obsessed with eating only healthy foods, rapid weight loss, and socially isolating oneself to eat alone. Here are some things to focus on in order to reduce the chances of young adults becoming disordered eaters:

Balanced Diet
Consume a balanced diet with a variety of foods. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, proteins, vegetable oils, and dairy, while also leaving room for sweet and salty foods. It is important to avoid labeling foods as being good or bad or cutting out entire food groups.

Physical Activity
Getting enough physical activity is also important because it can help to increase positive body image and reduce stress. It is recommended that young women get 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity most days of the week and resistance training 2 days a week. However, working out can be unhealthy if it becomes an obsession or out of control.

Be Social
Being social is also important to help increase positive body image. Those who have positive, uplifting friends in real life tend to have better body images than those who spend a lot of time on social media. Spending time on social media can have negative effects on body image because young adults commonly compare themselves to unattainable body ideals. 


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