People, especially women, have a lot of insecurities when it comes to issues from acne to how one dresses to their overall image. One of the biggest issues is lack of confidence in young adults, especially college students, specifically body image and how they view themselves in the mirror.
In today’s society, there is so much negativity when it comes to the topic of body image. This negativity can be seen for both men and women on communication outlets and platforms such as advertisements, television and social media.
Research has shown that the human brain doesn’t fully develop until the age of 25. With that being said, what young people are constantly looking at on their phones, laptops or televisions can impact one’s self-image. The unrealistic body type of models on Instagram can trigger young people into thinking that if they looked like a model, they can attract others into liking them.
The biggest influence on this, social media, causes the most damage to the mind of teens and young adults. Seeing photos of Instagram models with full faces of makeup, expensive clothes and body types that are unrealistic are what makes these teens and young adults view themselves in a negative way.
In the case of college students, specifically incoming freshmen, one of the biggest insecurities can be gaining weight. It can be stressful for a young adult to be away from their surroundings and becoming their own person.
“The Freshmen 15.” This is used to describe a situation in which someone in the first year of college gains weight while dealing with the stress of change. I have had my own experience with this.
For me personally when I first started college at the age of 18, I found it quite difficult to make healthy eating decisions for myself because of the stress of classes, homework and everything that came with being in a new environment. Eventually the stress and the way I saw my body became overwhelming and I took a gap year. After taking a gap year, I returned making better eating habits and started viewing myself in a positive way.
Life is full of tribulations and as humans we will undergo stresses and stages in our lives that take us by surprise. We as a whole should start using social media to connect with others on issues like stress eating to identify that this is common, and that the college experience should be celebrated.
If you are someone who is going through stress and change, embrace it. Use the hashtag #HerCampusLynn and share your college experience and how you’ve dealt with the changes in your life.