Childline: Support available for those worried about their body image or eating habits
Last year, our Childline teams across the country delivered more than 3,300 counselling sessions to young people who were concerned about body image and eating disorders.
More than 900 of these sessions mentioned calorie counting or food restriction, and almost a third of sessions took place between June and August. Where age was known, most counselling sessions took place with children aged between 12 and 15, while six per cent of all sessions on this topic were delivered to under-11s.
Our counsellors heard from young people with weight concerns, some who were dealing with binge eating, anorexia, some who wanted to access support services.
A 12-year-old girl told Childline: “This girl at school would always call me fat. My friends are all skinny, the girls I see on TikTok are skinny. I started purging and skipping meals last year and I’m finally skinny, but mum finally noticed and gets angry when I don’t eat properly. I can’t go back to eating three meals a day again, I can’t go back to being fat.”
Some young people also told our counsellors they had spent hours comparing themselves to others online, looking up weight loss videos on YouTube and Instagram.
With the warm weather continuing and families here and across the country planning their summer holidays, we understand that young people might be finding themselves in positions where they feel anxious about their body.
Unrealistic beauty standards promoted by influencers and celebrities on social media are leading some young people to take drastic measures and, in some cases, restricting their food intake or developing eating disorders.
Childline is available around the clock to support young people with whatever they're going through, and our trained counsellors will listen without judgment. Our colleagues on the NSPCC Helpline are also available to offer support and advice to parents and carers who are worried about a child.
Any young people who are worried about their body image or eating habits can speak to our Childline service any time on 0800 1111 or through the website, www.childline.org.uk