One in five teens ashamed of their bodies

One in five Scottish young people say they have felt ashamed of their body image and the way they look, according to a poll by a mental health charity.

The survey of nearly 400 young people aged between ten and 19 was commissioned by Ment al Health Foundation Scotland (MHFS) to mark this week’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

One in seven said they had stopped eating or restricted their diet while, just over one in ten said that their body image had stopped them from going to school or college, and over a quarter said it had stopped them from taking part in sports.

MHFS’S Julie Cameron said: “Worries about body image can lead to mental health problems and in some instances are linked to self-harm and suicidal thoughts.”