Teen Body Image Can be a "Weighty" Issue
Teen Body Image
If you are a young female adolescent then at some point or
another you have probably wondered whether or not you are overweight.
Unfortunately thanks to media portrayals of waist thin actresses and peer
pressure to look your best at all times, many young women fall prey to the
belief that there is no such thing as 'too skinny' when it comes to their body
image and self esteem.
Healthy Weight and Body Image
What exactly is the right weight for you? That depends on a number of factors.
Forget about TV ads and magazine covers for just a moment and consider your
personal health and well being. Did you know that a majority of teen females are
actually a normal body weight? In fact studies show that a very small proportion
of teen women are actually overweight.
How can you determine your overall health and well being? One tool you can use
is the Body Mass Index (BMI). This tool computes your weight and height into a
formula that determines your body mass index. A healthy BMI is much more
important that the actual number on the scale. Generally the following
guidelines apply:
To determine your approximate BMI you can use the
table provided below. Simply find your height in inches on the left of the
sheet, and your corresponding body weight in the graph. The number in the table will equal your approximate BMI.
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