Body image is the mental picture a person has of their body and how they think others see them and their body.  A person can have a body image anywhere along a continuum, from positive to negative.  From a very early age, children begin to develop an image of the way they see their body and decide how they feel about it.

Adults, family, peers, and the media play important roles in the development of the image children create of themselves. It is important that children develop healthy body images and accept themselves as people with unique personalities, body shape and sizes.

York Region Health Services offers consultation and resources related to the promotion of positive body image in York Region Schools. Call Health Connection and ask to speak to a public health nurse from School Services team.

Instructional Resource for Schools

Body Image and Eating Disorders

Curriculum Resources

Dove Real Beauty School Program

Reflections of Me: The ETFO Body Image Project

Steroids and Body Image

Teach Nutrition

The Student Body - Promoting Health at Any Size

The Vibrant Faces Program

Directory of York Region Services and Resources for the Prevention of Eating Disorders.

The Vitality Approach: A Guide for Leaders: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/nutrition

What is Normal

Parent Health Connection - Tips for Parents

Body Image Instructional Resources for Teachers/Schools (Summary)

Videos

Pamphlets

Are You Body Wise?   

Body Weight and Health...What is the Link?                                                   

Helping Teens Develop a Positive Body Image

Websites

Body Sense

Body Image Coalition of Peel

Campaign for Real Beauty

Concerned Children's Advertisers (CCA)

The Media Awareness Network

University of Calgary: http://www.ucalgary.ca/~egallery/volume2/small.html

Media Education Foundation

National Eating Disorders Information Centre (NEDIC)