Body Shape and Body Image in Adolescence for Nurses

This session explores the normal variations and trends in body shape during adolescence and the factors that commonly influence it, including genetic, ethnic and lifestyle factors. It explains how growth is monitored and explores the common barriers that health professionals may encounter when assessing body shape.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe the normal range of adolescent body shape
• Use age-appropriate growth charts for height, weight and body mass index (BMi)
• Explain the effect of altering the rate of weight gain on BMI
• Recognise genetic, ethnic and pathological influences on body shape
• Identify common activity trends in male and female adolescents and their effect on body shape
• Outline the issues arising from weighing and measuring young people, including common barriers that health professionals may encounter

The high rates of obesity in children and young people, plus widespread concerns about eating disorders in adolescents, have increased the need for weighing and measuring of young people by health professionals. In order to recognise weight problems we need a clear understanding of normal ranges, as well as confidence in the techniques for weighing and measuring young people.