Like clockwork, the turn of the new calendar year always brings a slew of chatter about weight loss, diets and exercise. Whether it’s in the form of a friend’s social media post proudly claiming “new year, new me,” or an influx of ads from gyms, it can seem impossible to escape the topic of dieting this time of year.
For teens who are developing their identities and may already be struggling with body image issues, being surrounded by this pervasive talk of food and weight can be damaging.
“Teens [are] still in the vulnerable stage of figuring out their sense of self, [so] they can be very susceptible to the marketing ploys selling the idea that a ‘new you’ means changing your body,” Edie Stark, owner of Stark Therapy Group and Edie Stark Consulting, told HuffPost.