It was announced yesterday that the Minister for Youth Kate Ellis had received a report by The Proposed National Strategy on Body Image.

The group, chaired by former women’s magazine Editor Mia Freedman and includes model and television identity Sarah Murdoch, magazine Editor Sarah Cornish, youth representative Amanda Scott and Butterfly Foundation Founder Claire Vickery, was appointed by Ellis earlier in the year in an effort to help the Government address the growing number of issues surrounding poor body image amongst youth. “Negative body image is a serious problem that affects the lives of many young people – both men and women,” Ms Ellis stated. “Self-esteem, confidence and resilience are so important to growing up happy and healthy and we want to give that precious gift to all young people.”

As part of the report the following recommendations were made to the Government:
- Approach and select body image spokespeople who are credible and expert on body image issues, either from a health and wellbeing or relevant industry perspective.
- Provide appropriate information to parents and carers to assist them in fostering positive body image messages in the home and note the impact of maternity on body image.
- Make a positive body image checklist available as a resource for schools, Universities and Registered Training Providers such as TAFES and consider the issue of body image in the development of the national curriculum.
- Identify key organisations and industries where body image is likely to be a significant issue (sports, arts and community groups for example) and address their current approach.
- Introduce standardised sizing and ensure those sizing labels do not encourage competitive weight loss.
- Commission the development of strategies that will encourage media and advertising outlets to promote positive body image such as the use of healthy weight models and disclosing the digital manipulation of images.

So, what are your thoughts on the aforementioned recommendations? Are they on cue? Are they achievable? Or despite the best intensions of this high profile think tank are they unrealistic? Will these steps towards positive body image only end up wrapped in red tape and not make it any further than the concept stage? According to Ms Ellis, “Young people rated body image as their top concern in Mission Australia’s National Survey of Young Australians in 2007 and at third in 2008.” A frightening statistic, don’t you think? Let’s hope this works.

For further information and a copy of the report visit the Proposed National Strategy on Body Image page on youth.gov.au.