(This message is directed to male and female students. Open with this video, “Girls Self-Esteem,” 2:42 min.).
A survey of high school students revealed that girls and guys generally felt worse about their own bodies after reading fashion, sports, health and fitness magazines.
The disturbing fact is, the media, meaning TV and movies, magazines, billboards, web advertising and promotional videos, produce misleading body image information. By PhotoShopping (i.e., airbrushing or retouching) photos of models and celebrities, they present to the public impossible physical ideals. No one can look like them. After one supermodel saw her retouched photos, she said, “I wish I looked like this!”
PhotoShopping is everywhere. Not only models, but actors and actresses, musicians, dancers, news anchors, speakers and authors routinely have their photos extensively altered. Model Filippa Hamilton, size 8: Her body frame underwent such a PhotoShop transformation in one poster for Ralph Lauren’s Blue Label jeans that her head actually seems wider than her waist. Is this what you would call picture perfect? Would you really want to look like this?
Females are not the only ones pursuing a perfect body. What represents an attractive male body has not received the same level of attention as the female body has, despite evidence that males also have strong beliefs about their body image and physique. Boys, too, are falling for the same kind of glamorous images. Unlike their female counterparts, most boys aren’t out to get thin. They want that chiseled physique that so many athletes and celebrities portray. Advertisements shout, “Muscle up! Get ripped!” However, not all boys are out to bulk up. Many desire that wiry rock star look. Whether boy or girl, each receive the same message: “This is the way you should look. You’ll be happy if you look like this.” Consequently, many are taking it too far and are hurting themselves in the process.
Hard to believe, but thin wasn’t always in. There are centuries of documentation of female beauty: beautiful women are shapely, soft and rounded. What a contrast to our current ideal: the waif-like figure introduced by Twiggy in the 1960s, popularized by the likes of Kate Moss. According to multiple PhotoShop experts, almost every photo you see in mainstream media has been retouched in one way or another. Most celebrity-types will not release their own photos unless they’ve been retouched. Celebrities and health, fashion and beauty magazines aren’t the only ones guilty of selecting perfect images. We edit our own photos by deleting, detagging or cropping and then posting the best one to our social profiles. Ordinary people have access to portrait-enhancing software.
Most teens do not know the extent to which photos are airbrushed, so let’s look at the industry’s retouching process (8 min.).
• This video showcases the long process it takes to bring a female model’s face from natural to advertisement-worthy (1:15 min.).
• This video showcases the long process it takes to bring a male model’s face and body from natural to advertisement-worthy (4:13 min.):
• How PhotoShop retouching works using a teen male’s head shot (2:04 min.).
While girls are vocal about their negative self-image, repeatedly declaring, “I’m fat,” boys tend to eat normally and take body-building supplements in private. Constant viewing of retouched photography does have a negative impact on one’s self-image and self-worth, and worse, may indirectly trigger eating disorders, self-abuse, excessive exercising and other harmful behaviors.
After watching a video of a model’s retouching process, one female teen said, “I didn’t realize they were PhotoShopped so much. I know now she’s not real, but I still want to look like her.” Why do we feel so negative about our own bodies and desire a look that is unattainable? We all have beliefs we’re usually not aware of having. These beliefs guide our behavior automatically. When they are negative or self-condemning such as when you constantly think, “I am fat,” or “I am ugly,” or “My nose is too big,” or “My breasts or pecs are too small,” then our behavior can become self-destructive in an effort to reverse the belief. For example, if I starve myself for the next two weeks, I will lose a lot of weight and not be fat. If I increase my workout from 40 minutes to two hours, I will become leaner and stronger. It is a fact that dieting and over-exercising are common behaviors that lead to an eating disorder (more than one-third of normal dieters develop a deadly eating disorder).
In time, the airbrushed look and the perception that “only flawless, skinny or buffed people are accepted and successful” are accepted as truth. The real truth is these are lies we have come to believe. The Bible even says, “A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman–who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls” (
The good news is, today powerful celebrities such as Kate Winslet and Brad Pitt, as well as the American Medical Association, are speaking out. They believe, as many other celebrities do, that PhotoShopping has gone too far. They chose to go PhotoShop-free.
What does the Bible say about this? Even though in biblical times there was no photo-enhancing software and idolization of supermodels, actors, athletes, etc., Jesus had plenty to say on the subject. Cleaning up the outside of the cup while leaving the inside a mess, full of self-indulgence, is not what Jesus recommended (see
Jesus’ beliefs and view of life—called a biblical worldview—means understanding and living life from God’s perspective. This is what the Bible does—it gives us the truth about life and happiness. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way to do great things (
Jesus said if we follow Him, we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free (
Every person has been set apart to do something no one else can do (
In addition to regular Bible study, there are three other things we can do:
1. Know what your body does for you. Your body is incredible! It dances, swims, runs, fights off infections and gets you to school every day. For females, it will be the home for a developing fetus and nourish a baby. Accept that your body is a gift from God. Learn to listen to what your body needs, not what culture says it needs, such as constant dieting or exercising. Your body is not an object or commodity to be exploited and used. Your body is to be guarded and respected because it was designed by God.
2. Take a stand and question the unrealistic images set in magazines, celebrity makeovers, reality shows; and question those who undergo radical plastic surgery transformations. Start to resist other peoples’ attempts to evaluate and define you by your appearance. What is in your heart? What do you have a passion for?
3. Recognize God has put you on this earth to fulfill a very important assignment. You cannot fill that assignment if you are focused on looking like someone else or are not healthy. God tells us, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (
Through Jesus Christ, we have the power to transform ourselves—not by mirroring false images and people. Jesus is real; celebrities and images aren’t. Following Jesus is how we find out who we really are.
This author has emerged victorious from a 17-year battle with an eating disorder, a 20-year struggle with alcohol abuse, and more than 30 years of idolizing celebrities which developed from a negative body image and self-worth. I can tell you it was, and continues to be, my commitment to nurturing a relationship with the triune God, connecting with real people and serving others that kept me and keeps me from seeking a self-centered celebrity-obsessed lifestyle.
As leaders, often a few words of praise, a compliment, a big smile or hug will be enough nourishment to help a kid overcome a challenging situation and instill self-worth and respect. Praise opens the door to communication, but we also must be careful about how we praise students. To say, “I am so proud of you for losing 15 pounds,” or “You look so cool now in this new hair style,” is really saying, “You are your weight and your appearance.”
The better compliment might be, “I am so proud of you for losing 15 pounds. I know that was very hard for you. It took a lot of self-discipline, control and patience. Those are great qualities that will get you through other challenges in life.” This way, you’re praising their character and personhood. Also, try, “Good choice! Your new hair style really compliments your whole self.”
We all agree this culture needs more healthy role models—young people who represent God’s model of health physically and emotionally. There is growing evidence that the cult of the thin plastic PhotoShopped persona is being rejected. Amen!
Kimberly received her M.A. in specialized ministry from Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon. She is a board certified biblical counselor, personal life coach, speaker and founder of Olive Branch Outreach, a ministry dedicated to bringing hope and restoration to those struggling with body image. Kimberly volunteers in student ministries and youth education outreach. She is the author of four books, contributor to five books and has penned numerous articles.
