Stars blamed for body image fears

Celebrities and social media stars have been blamed for heaping pressure on young people to meet “unobtainable” body image standards.

Youth charity YMCA found that 62 per cent of 15 to 16-yearolds felt expectations over their personal appearance had been ramped up by social media. Photoshopped images and the sharing of only flattering shots have shifted young people’s understanding of what a normal body looks like, the charity said.

Ideals of physical perfection were also said to be driven by celebrity culture, with 58 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds identifying it as the main influence.

YMCA spoke to more than 1,000 young people aged between 11 and 16 about the pressures they felt to look “perfect”.

Four out of ten claimed people they saw on social media influenced them.