22
Teens and Body Image
height can add to that self-consciousness. For instance, a tall girl might
hesitate to date a short boy not because she finds his size unattractive but
because being with him makes her self-conscious about her own height.
Studies show that taller girls tend to become more comfortable with
their height as they get older. Shorter boys do as well. According to psy-
chologist DuncanThomson, short men “are quite capable of being content
and at ease with their appearance.”
18
And self-confidence and a positive
body image can be attractive to the opposite sex—regardless of one’s height.
Muscle Development in Boys
At one time, it was primarily boys who were concerned about muscle
growth and definition. Today both girls and boys want six-pack abs, and
girls and women alike admire the defined biceps of First Lady Michelle
Obama. However, boys tend to equate their musculature with their mas-
culinity. From a young age, boys view large, defined muscles as a sign of
attractiveness, maturity, and social stature. According to Carolyn Sav-
age, a former teacher and elementary school principal, “Size is so impor-
tant in the social pecking order of young boys.”
19
For this reason, many
boys entering puberty are concerned about their muscle development—
especially if their peers are already muscular.
The body shape of teen boys tends to change during their growth spurt.
According to
The Merck Manual of Medical Information
, peak growth
typically happens to boys between ages thirteen and fifteen—though it
can happen several years later. This
is the time that shoulders broaden
and muscles in the chest (pecto-
rals) and arms (biceps and triceps)
begin to get bigger. After puberty,
teen boys can increase muscle mass
through resistance training (lifting
weights). However, lifting weights before puberty will not increase muscle
mass and can even cause injury. Because of this, boys who are in the early
stages of puberty should not lift weights unless their doctor approves.
Boys, Body Size, and Self-Esteem
Recently, researchers have begun to pay more attention to the way teen
boys’ perception of their size and musculature affects their body image
Both girls and boys
want six-pack abs.
“
”
