HHS HealthBeat (August 29, 2006)

Danger and looks

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

In some teens, worry about looks may run dangerously deep.

Researchers found depression, anxiety or suicide risk were worse in teen-age psychiatric inpatients with body image problems, such as eating disorders or intense unhappiness with parts of their bodies.

Jennifer Dyl of Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island also says body image concerns were found in many inpatient teens in general.

She says parents should check in with teens whose diets or body worries seem excessive:

"Ask, for example, if a teen is very worried about how they look, and if so, which body parts concern them, how much time they spend thinking about it, how much distress this causes them, and whether or not they ever feel distressed about their concerns." (12 seconds)

The study in Child Psychology and Human Development was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: September, 26 2006