State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, will today move a Notice of Motion asking the Minister for Education to develop a program aimed at addressing body image issues amongst secondary school-aged boys.
Recent reports show that more than a quarter of Hunter adolescents believe they have a current and significant problem with their body image.
While binge-eating and over-eating disorders are becoming more common, the drive for muscularity through steroid use is becoming increasingly problematic for young boys aged 12 to 19.
A number of education programs currently exist for girls but they aren’t suitable for adolescent boys. Their ideals are different to what girls are aspiring to be. For boys it’s about attaining a muscular body.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“This Notice of Motion is calling on the Minister to look at the research being done to see what programs could be developed here in NSW.”
“Currently programs are predominantly aimed at binge-eating and over-eating disorders and they have not been overly successful with boys.”
“It is evident that boys have really been neglected, their ideals are different to what girls aspire to be. For them it is more about attaining a really muscular body.”
“The Victoria University is developing an Australian-first secondary school program for teenage boys dissatisfied with their bodies. The aim is to prevent them from turning to steroids and sport supplements to achieve the body they desire.”
“More boys are hitting the gym and are bulking and shredding using extreme dietary behaviours. It is encouraged and in some cases encouraged as being healthy.”
“For a lot of boys, they see themselves as being scrawnier and thinner than they really are and this is leading to an increase in muscularity body image problems. A common outcome of chasing this is muscle dysmorphia, informally known as reverse anorexia.”
“I encourage the Minister to look at the research and work on developing a program.”