Miss Universe Contestant, Role Model Malnourished, Doctors Say
How do youth pastors and parents combat the barrage of imagery in media today telling teen girls that they need to be super skinny to be considered attractive?
The latest controversy is in Australia where a Miss Universe contestant is sparking controversy for her weight (or lack of it). Her body mass index is only 15.1 (18 and below is considered malnourished), and doctors believe she probably has an eating disorder (source).
This isn’t the first time extremely low weight has been an issue with celebrities. One young model died a few years ago after suffering from anorexia (she was 5′8″, 88 lbs.).
Now studes are saying that one third of 11 year olds have already dieted, and one in five percent are “always on a diet because they were so unhappy with the shape of their body.”
We can do several things to help our students and children develop a healthy body image:
- Teach that our self-worth does not come from who we are or what we look like. It all starts in Christ and His limitless love for us. We must understand our identity in Christ.
- Guard against the media. Encourage students to limit what they watch and what they read. Challenge your youth group to take a two week media fast and discuss its effects.
- Model a healthy self-image. Show your students that you are content in Christ no matter what the scale says.
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Word. I’d be interested to hear from other youth pastors who have/are effectively teaching this. We say it and model it a lot, but is it getting through? Sometimes I feel like it’s me vs. media.
A slightly related issue. I’ve heard some people say that eating healthly and exercising to have a healthy weight is actually Godly.
Your thoughts?
Good question Chris. Let me respond with several points:
–Proverbs 23:20-21 warns us, “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” Gluttony definitely is not wise!
–Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). We should do what it takes to take care of that temple!
–Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Is over-eating a sin? I can’t think of a verse that says that blatantly. But selfishness is a sin, and over-eating is usually a selfish act.
I also recognize that God has called me to be a leader. As a leader, people will naturally look at my example in every area of life. When they look at my dieting and exercise lifestyle, do I want them to see an area that I just don’t care about, or another part of my life that I have prayerfully submitted to God’s wisdom and direction?
Also, there’s a lot of work to do here on Earth. I’m anxious to get to heaven, but I’m not about to cut my time here short because I won’t control my hunger for burgers or won’t get up a few times a week to go for a jog.
What do you think?
I agree with Nathaniel that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such, appropriate care of the body is a godly thing to do.
Regarding body image among teens:
It is important to encourage self-worth and model a healthy body image yourself, as Nathaniel mentioned, but communicating with parents is also important.
There is an ongoing study of teens and eating habits at the University of Minnesota, called “Project Eat.”
The recommendation for health care providers from the researchers studying the problems of overweight and eating disorders are the following:
1) discourage unhealthy dieting; instead encourage and support the use of eating and physical activity behaviors that can be maintained on an ongoing basis;
2) promote a positive body image;
3) encourage more frequent, and more enjoyable, family meals;
4) Encourage families to talk less about weight and do more at home to facilitate healthy eating and physical activity; and
5) assume that overweight teens have experienced weight mistreatment and address this issue with teens and their families. (Dr. Neumark-Sztainer, Journal of Adolescent Health, March 2009, p. 206-213)
It seems that many of these recommendations for health care workers can be endorsed and adopted by people in youth ministry, for example, encouraging a daily enjoyable family meal, and encouraging parents to speak words that reflect a healthy body image. Having a good parent-child emotional connection is a way to protect teen emotional health and body satisfaction, according to the Project Eat researchers.
Some practical ideas for youth ministry?
1 Invite a dietitian and adolescent psychologist to speak to your youth group parents about the importance of family meals, using positive body image words and increasing the parent-child connection
2 If it appears to you that the parent-teen emotional connection may be damaged, ask the parents if they have considered counseling by a psychologist who works with teens and has a family-based approach. Family-based counseling includes the whole family, and doesn’t focus exclusively on the teen themselves.
3 Coordinate with your children’s ministry pastor (that may be you!) to find ways to strengthen the parent-child emotional bond and promote positive body image with parents of younger families.
4 Listen to the words your parents speak about themselves and how they feel about their body. IS Mom or Dad dieting? Think about how you could talk to parents about this, so that they are reflecting a more positive body image to their teens and choosing lifestyle change instead of short term dieting. Is your church sponsoring a short term diet program or weight loss contest for adults? What does that communicate to your teens?
5 Don’t allow teasing of people about weight in your youth group. Weight teasing happens to 1/3 to 1/2 of teens and it leads to lower self esteem, lower body image and depression.
6 Have a policy that encourages the family meal time, such as not scheduling activites during dinner time, unless the parents are invited to eat with their teen
7 Schedule physical activity, and provide healthy foods at youth group functions. For example, have a policy that you will play some kind of active game at each youth group meeting. Get movement into worship with a teen worship dance or drama troupe. Some of the most effective sermons I’ve heard were presented in conjunction with a drama presentation of the bible story being discussed
Wow Charlotte, thanks for the comment! Great insight.
Being a role model for the youth one should set example by being physically fit and appealing at the same time but not to the point that one should be too thin. nice list of practical ideas for youth ministry there !