This past week, I watched snippets of the Channel 10  documentary “Mirror Mirror”, where Todd Sampson focuses on the prevalence of body dissatisfaction in the promotion of health and beauty. 

At different points in the documentary, I needed to turn the show off for my own wellbeing, dealing with my sadness at watching the transformations. In one scene, they showed side-by-side before and after pictures of someone who had extensive cosmetic surgery. The ‘before’ picture resembled someone who might have been a next door neighbour or even a student here at Lutheran School. I kept asking myself, How does proverbial ‘the girl/boy next door’ get to a place where they feel the need to completely alter themselves physically?

What the studies say

Kids today are more obsessed with their body image than those in past generations. This is partially influenced by the media and their social connectivity. Encouraging kids to have a healthy body image in childhood, can lay the foundations for good physical and mental health later in life.

A recent study highlighted that body image is one of the top three concerns for Australian youth. Over half of girls in high schools have tried to lose weight. One-third of teenage boys wanted to be thinner and another third wanted to be larger. Children need to understand that their body shape and size is not a reflection of their health or success. We need to work together to help kids understand that everyone is born with their own ‘body-suit’.

Our Aims at Lutheran School

The Lutheran School Strategic Plan for 2021-2024 includes the following goal: Encourage and support wellbeing school-wide by creating and utilising a comprehensive health and wellbeing curriculum 

Over the past two years, a group of teachers has been working with AISNSW to create a comprehensive Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) curriculum that focuses both on physical and mental health. Some of the questions explored K-6 include the following:

• What makes me unique?
• How can I develop healthy habits?
• How does my uniqueness shape who I am?
• What influences my decisions and actions to be healthy, safe and physically active?
• Who am I and what are my strengths?
• What skills and strategies do we need to be healthy and empowered?
• How responsible am I for my own and others health, safety and wellbeing?
• How does a healthy, safe and active lifestyle enhance connection with others?

Body image fits into all of these questions. 

Beyond the curriculum from NSW, we have the privilege of also reminding students what God says to them in Psalm 139:14 “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Fearfully when translated from the Hebrew means ‘with great reverence, heart-felt interest, and with respect’. Wonderfully when translated from the Hebrew means ‘unique and set apart’. We have a God who reverently and heart-fully thought of us as we were formed – and He continues that loving care for us as we develop into our full forms.

How much do you know about body image?

Not sure? Take a quiz to find out. Parents of Lutheran School have access to our School.tv account that addresses the issue of body image (and more!). 

Click on the picture for parent articles and videos to help our young scholars develop positive body images.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.