Hello, Lesley, and welcome to the show.0:14
Can you tell our listeners what you do exactly?0:17
Yes, of course, Mike.0:20
I'm a youth worker and I visit schools to talk to groups of students about improving their body image.0:22
You see, as teenagers, bodies change, so can the way they see themselves.0:28
Because of this, many teens believe that they would be happier if they were thinner, taller or shorter, or if they had curly hair, a smaller nose, longer legs.0:33
And it's really important to have a good body image, isn't it?0:44
Because feeling good about yourself often affects the way you act.0:49
A A person with a good self image makes friends more easily, recognizes their mistakes and learns from them, and generally enjoys their life more.0:53
Of course, young people often compare themselves to others, don't they?1:02
Like to their friends and even to celebrities on tv?1:07
One of the first things I say to the teens I speak to is that they mustn't do this because everyone is different.1:13
Instead, I tell them to think about what they can change about themselves and what they can't.1:20
You can't change your height or your shoe size, for example, so there's no point worrying about things like that.1:24
Then if there are things you want to change about yourself, like wanting to lose some weight or become healthier, you should take small steps every day to reach your goals.1:31
Do you have any other advice to give before you go?1:42
Most people wish they could change something about themselves, but sometimes poor body image can become a very big problem, and a teenager can become very depressed.1:47
If this happens, you must talk to a parent, a teacher, or an adult you trust, or even call a teen helpline.1:56
Remember that adults were all teens once, and they probably know exactly how you feel.2:04
Thank you very much for coming on the show, Lesley.2:09
It was a pleasure to be here.2:13
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