Poor body confidence causes drug and alcohol abuse

A report carried out by 14 leading academics and backed by Jo Swinson, the equalities minister, has found that many women who have a negative opinion of their body are also abusing drugs and alcohol.

The reports forms part of the government’s body confidence campaign, which looks at how popular culture affects self-esteem and behaviour.

Ms Swinson said: “The evidence from these academic experts shows that poor body confidence doesn’t just affect how people feel about their looks. It can have a devastating effect on many aspects of their lives, from achieving at school to succeeding in the workplace – and at worst can lead to depression and self-harm.”

The report revealed that in some cases poor body image is linked to risky lifestyle choices, including drug and alcohol abuse and unsafe sex.

Obesity is another problem caused by poor body image. While it is often assumed that obesity may lead to a woman developing a self-esteem problem, research has shown that in some cases it is a poor body image that results in obesity.

The report explains how poor body confidence often discourages people from being physically active and this can lead to eating disorders. The end result is that girls and young women are more likely to suffer low self-esteem, which can divert attention away from civil participation and sometimes lead to a range of risky behaviour such as drugs, alcohol, self-harm and unsafe sex.

Young people feel a lot of pressure to look a particular way; if they fail to accomplish this, the result can be drug and alcohol abuse as an attempt to cope with depression and anxiety.