Body image question ‘disrespectful’
A SURVEY question which asked school-aged children what they thought of their body image has been branded “absurd” and “disrespectful”.
The poll, carried out by Cardiff University, the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales, was sent to children aged between 11 and 16 at 210 Welsh schools.
Its aim was to provide monitoring data for the Welsh Government to understand health issues facing young people. However, the survey has been heavily criticised for asking a multi-choice question about their bodies which included the options “much too fat”, “much too thin” and “about the right size”.
Holly Rhys-Ellis, 26, from Carmarthen, developed an eating disorder when she was 11 and spent six months in hospital. She described the survey as “unhelpful”.
She told BBC Wales: “Why don’t we concentrate more on people’s qualities, their interests, how they feel, do they exercise? Maybe concentrating more on those things rather than how people look. If people then feel they are fat or thin, or however they feel, then they can discuss it if they bring it up, rather than putting those words in people’s faces.”
The questions included formed part of the World Health Organisation’s health behaviour in school-aged children survey and have
been administered in more than 50 European countries, also including England and Scotland. The body image question is part of a mandatory set of questions and has been asked since 1993.
Other questions include asking about what foods children eat, how active they are, as well as ones about bullying, smoking, alcohol and drugs.
Bethan Sayed, former chairwoman of the Senedd eating disorders group, said she was “shocked and appalled” by the questions and added: “We have influences from social media, from the advertising industry around us telling us to be certain sizes. The last thing we need is for a survey of this nature... asking ‘are you too thin or too fat?’.
Children’s commissioner for Wales Sally Holland said she understood the alarm the question had caused, particularly considering the topic’s
sensitivity and its strong links to mental health.
She added: “In light of the concerns raised with us we are in touch with the research team about this question and its context, including its development, testing, and the support and guidance offered to schools and pupils.”
In response, a Cardiff University spokesman told BBC Wales: “The question is one of a range included in the survey capturing predictors of health and wellbeing outcomes and contributes to our understanding and national, local and regional responses to the health and wellbeing issues faced by young people in Wales.
“Parents are sent letters with details of the survey, how they can obtain further information or discuss any concerns with the study team and instructions on how they can withdraw their child from the survey.”