Promoting Body Image Awareness – Interview Series #6: Meet “Kevin”

09/01/25:

Did you know that around 80% of girls and 50% of boys in Western countries have body image concerns during high school, according to the data from the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and the National Organization for Women (NOW)? The numbers are even higher for LGBTQ+ teens. People who struggle with body image are also more likely to develop eating disorders.

To help bring more attention to this issue, I’m starting an interview series with people I know. They’ll be sharing their personal stories—what they’ve gone through, how it’s affected them, and the ways they’ve learned to cope.

To keep things private, I’m using fake names for everyone I interview.

Q1. Overall, do you think you are satisfied with your body? Why or why not?

• I am satisfied with my own body and yet I still find myself comparing to others. I often find myself comparing to others because I am in such an active field of work and see incredibly strong people. I feel strong, but not strong. I feel fast but not fast enough.

Q2. How has your body image affected your mental health?

• My body image has negatively affected my mental health. Due to me often comparing myself to others, I make myself believe that I am not good enough for the field I am in. It makes me self doubt my own abilities and aspirations.

Q3. Do you ever find yourself comparing your body to other people? How does that make you feel?

• I often compare myself out of habit as we are humans. It makes me feel weak and small when I see people with such good physiques while I have put in years upon years of work and seen little results.

Q4. What advice would you give to people who are insecure about their bodies?

• Advice I would give is to look at both sides of the spectrum: your strengths and your weaknesses. It is good to know both so you can feel good about yourself while also acknowledging that there is work to be done. You can also got stronger, but it is your own initiative to get stronger and if you feel sorry for yourself you will never achieve your goals.