Lesson 5.4: Your Body Image

Overview

This lesson focuses on learning about body image (both positive and negative body images), what can influence a person’s body image, and how to improve body image.

Learning Targets

  • LO14: Explain what body image is.
  • LO15: Explain why having a positive body image is important.
  • LO16: Compare and contrast common eating disorders.
  • LO17: Describe how media, including social media, influence body image.
  • LO18: Identify five ways to improve your body image.

Preparation

For the Warm-Up Activity: Write the Journal Question on the board or identify (and copy as needed) the worksheets you plan to use:

For the Content Focus: Make copies of the Lesson 5.4 Note-Taking Guide. Project the Lesson 5.4 PowerPoint slides.

For the Lesson Focus: Copy the Lesson 5.4 Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Analyzing Influences on Body Image.

Warm-Up Activity

Select a warm-up activity to help get your class focused and on task.

  • Journal Question: How often do you compare yourself to images you see in the media? How do you feel when you compare yourself to others?
    • Option: Write or project the question and have students respond in their journal or on their “bell ringer” sheet as they enter class.
    • Option: Have students discuss the question with a partner or in a small group.
  • Vocabulary Review: Have students work individually, in pairs, or in small groups to complete the Lesson 5.4 Vocabulary Review Worksheet
  • Quiz: Have students complete the Lesson 5.4 Quiz to assess their prior knowledge.
    • Option: Collect the quiz and use it alongside a posttest to demonstrate student learning.
    • Option: Have students share their answers with a partner and then go over the answers together as a class.

Lesson Content

Review the content from the textbook lesson.

Lesson Focus: Analyzing Influences on Body Image

  1. Give each student a copy of the Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Analyzing Influences on Body Image.
  2. Instruct students to think about one of their favorite television or social media shows. Tell them they will be expected to complete the worksheet at home and be prepared to discuss their findings in class tomorrow.
  3. In class the next day, ask students to pair up with someone who analyzed a different show than they did. Tell students to share their observations. Once students have shared their observations, prompt them to discuss how body image might be influenced by the types of comments they saw and heard about in popular shows.
  4. Option: After partner discussions, ask for volunteers to share what they discussed with the class.

Challenge Activity

Have students needing an additional challenge work on the following Thinking Critically task.

How would you talk to a younger person about their body image if they were unhappy with their appearance? What would you want them to know? What tips or suggestions could you provide to help them manage the pressures they may be feeling about looking a certain way?

Reflection and Summary

Review the critical content from today’s lesson. Review the learning targets and ask students to answer each question posed.

Can you...

  • Explain what body image is?

    Your body image includes your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to your body size, shape, and appearance.

  • Explain why having a positive body image is important?

    Having a positive body image provides many benefits including good emotional health, improved self-confidence and self-esteem, healthier relationships, and healthier habits (exercise, healthy eating).

  • Compare and contrast common eating disorders?

    Anorexia: : restriction of eating; unhealthy weight loss; distorted body image

    Bulimia: Binge-eating followed by a behavior, such as vomiting, designed to undo the effects of the binge

    Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Severe limitations on the type or amount of foods consumed; extreme “picky eating”

    Orthorexia: An obsession with eating “correctly” or healthfully

    Binge-eating: Recurrent episodes of excessive eating, with feelings of shame and loss of control

  • Describe how media, including social media, influence body image?

    It is common for people to engage in social comparison, which is to compare themselves to media images and to feel bad when they do. Body shaming happens when we make cruel comments about someone’s body on social media. Body shaming is a type of bullying behavior that is unfortunately common on social media. It is a very mean and hurtful thing to do and can have damaging effects on a person’s self-esteem and well-being.

  • Identify five ways to improve your body image?

    Accept your body; don’t body shame yourself or others; focus on the things you like about yourself; focus on what your body can do, not just on how it looks; be mindful in your body; take care of your body.

Assessment

Complete one or more of the following assessment tasks for this lesson.

Take It Home

Make your room a safe body image space. Take down images and posters that make you feel bad about yourself. Post positive messages to yourself on mirrors, doors, nightstands, and in drawers. Focus on things you like about yourself and what you can do well. Whenever you are in your safe space, don’t allow yourself to say anything negative about your appearance. Finally, avoid body shaming yourself or anyone else.