Why Is Body Image So Important to Adolescents?
Teenagers’ bodies are undergoing so many changes that it is easy to understand why they may be preoccupied with their appearance and their body image. Both boys and girls are experiencing growth spurts and sexual development. Girls’ breasts and hips are enlarging, body hair is growing, and menstruation* is beginning. Boys’ muscles are growing, their voices are getting deeper, and their testicles and penises are getting larger. Their features may be changing, and hormones may cause skin problems. It takes a while to get used to their new “image” or appearance.
