Teen Counseling: A Perspective on Body Image and Eating Disorders When You Don’t Like Your Body
Teen Counseling: A Perspective on Body Image and Eating Disorders When You Don’t Like Your Body
The summer temperatures have settled in. As you pull your tank tops, shorts, and swimsuits out of the closet, you can't help but think, "No way I'm going to wear this with this body!" Your heart sinks looking at all those pretty girls on Instagram with their perfectly tanned and toned bodies, thinking, "Why don't I look like this? How many pounds did I gain while I wasn't paying attention? My thighs are huge. I look disgusting in everything I wear. I'm so unattractive. I have to stop eating. I hate myself."
You're not alone in feeling this way—and it's okay to talk about it. Our teen therapists at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando create a safe, non-judgmental space to explore body image concerns and help young clients feel safe in their bodies and not ashamed of themselves.
When You Hate Your Body
With the heat rising, most of us become more self-conscious, worrying about how we look. Maybe you gained a few pounds over the winter, and now, when the cozy sweaters and oversized hoodies that felt safe during the colder months are traded in for clothes that reveal more, you feel exposed in more ways than one. If you already struggle with your relationship with food and body image, this seasonal shift can hit especially hard.
I want to help you understand the deeper struggles behind body image concerns—why these thoughts show up, how they can take hold, and most importantly, how to begin healing your relationship with food and your body.
Body Image and Its Impact on Your Emotional Well-Being
Do you find yourself constantly thinking about your looks? Maybe you worry about things other people probably don't even notice. You keep checking the mirror or criticizing yourself for every ice cream you have. Casual plans like going to the beach with friends or attending a pool party become loaded with anxiety. Then, you start counting calories. You feel deeply upset when you eat more than you "should have."
When your thoughts are consumed with how your body looks, it can start to affect how you eat. After a while, you might begin to skip meals, throw away your portions when your mom doesn't see, avoid family dinners, excuse yourself with homework, or say you're not hungry or not feeling well.
It can be overwhelming to wrestle with how your body appears. Body image is what we think and how we feel about our bodies. A healthy body image means that you feel good about how you look and accept yourself as you are. A healthy body image is about more than just liking how you look. It also means recognizing your strengths and qualities that help you feel confident and good about yourself.
Body dissatisfaction is sometimes closely linked to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and eating disorders (EDs). In fact, studies have found that having a negative body image is one of the biggest factors that can lead to developing an eating disorder.
From Body Image Concerns to Disordered Eating Behaviors: What an Orlando Therapist Wants Teens (and Parents) to Know
It often starts with preoccupations with your appearance, then progresses to such behaviors as restrictive dieting, which can evolve into more severe mental health challenges like anorexia, binge eating, or bulimia. Disliking your body can also impact your mental health in other ways—it's generally linked to low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
This isn't about being vain. It's about emotional pain that runs deeper than people realize. You're not doing this for attention; you're just trying to cope. Eating disorders are complex mental health issues. It goes beyond food and eating habits —they’re often ways people cope with emotional distress, low self-esteem, trauma, perfectionism, or a need for control.
They're a complex result of biological factors (genetics, brain chemistry), psychological factors (perfectionism, trauma, anxiety), and, more prevalent in this digital age, social influences.
Not sure if any of this sounds like what you're going through?
Here are some signs that might point to an eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa: You follow strict eating rules, avoid certain foods, skip meals, and constantly check your weight. You see yourself through a distorted lens, your perception can lead you to believe you're one size when others see you in a different light. You have this intense fear of gaining weight, even when others are worried about how thin you've become. You might feel like your whole mood and self-worth depend on how your body looks. For many, that turns into a constant obsession with food and weight.
Binge Eating: People who struggle with binge eating often have episodes of eating a larger amount of food than what is perceived as "normal", ignoring hunger/fullness cues. It's not unusual for someone experiencing this to obsessively think about food, eat alone or in secret, to avoid the shame and guilt that they experience after these episodes.
Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia is when you go through cycles of binge eating, and then you try to "undo" it by throwing up, using laxatives, fasting, or over-exercising. You might feel out of control when eating, then overwhelmed with guilt or shame afterward. You might find yourself constantly worrying about your body and being overly critical of your appearance, even if your weight or body size falls within what’s often considered ‘average.’ Eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, size, shape, or weight.
Why Summer Season Can Be So Hard on Body Image: An Orlando Therapist Explains How to Cope with Summer Triggers
For most teens, summer brings a break from usual responsibilities. It brings parties, travel, and freedom. But if you already struggle with your relationship with food and eating, hot summer days, pool parties, beach outings, and skin-revealing clothes can all become triggers. For many teens, especially girls, summer also brings a sharp increase in self-consciousness.
The Role of Social Media
Social media adds to this pressure to look a certain way. For those who already feel uncertain about their appearance, constant comparison (I know you can't help but compare yourself to all those girls with "bikini body" photos) can quickly lead to feelings of shame, anxiety, or even harmful eating behaviors. What makes this even harder is that we live in a culture that normalizes these patterns—rewarding weight loss, praising "discipline," and turning dieting into a must. And when you're a teenager, you don't just pick up on these messages—you absorb them.
Mindful Living Counseling Orlando Supports Teens and Their Families
Body image issues in adolescence are real and valid. And when they're ignored, they can lead to serious mental and physical health concerns, including eating disorders.
Whether you're a teen struggling with these feelings or a parent watching your teen grow more anxious around food and appearance as summer approaches, know that you're not alone. At Mindful Living Counseling Orlando, our therapists are specially trained in adolescent development and eating disorder recovery. We offer a non-judgmental space where you can talk openly about shame, fear, and identity struggles.
Ready to Start Eating Disorder Therapy?
If you're ready to feel more at home in your own skin, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando.
Fill out our New Client Consultation Form
Schedule a consultation call with our eating disorder therapist.
Begin your healing journey!
Additional Resources for Eating Disorder Therapy Orlando
Eating Disorder Treatment in Orlando
ACT Therapy Orlando: Working with Anxiety and Eating Disorders
DBT Therapy Orlando: Working with Anxiety and Eating Disorders
Eating Disorder Therapist: Tristan McDermott
Tristin McDermott is a Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern who specializes in treating eating disorders. She understands that dealing with an eating disorder can be overwhelming, but recovery is achievable. Tristin assists clients in rebuilding their trust in their bodies by utilizing DBT, CBT, ACT, EMDR, and somatic techniques. She cultivates a supportive environment where clients feel recognized, understood, and empowered.