Two in five young people in Australia never feel good in their body – how BodyKind August is tackling the body image crisis

Nine in ten young people are calling for more body image support at school – Australia’s biggest positive body image initiative BodyKind August, is helping educators, families and sports clubs to answer that call.

• More than half (54%) of young people report being dissatisfied with how their body looks  

• Two in five young people never or rarely feel good in their body.  

• Over half report never or rarely speaking positively about their body 

• Around half of young people said their body image had stopped them to some extent from raising their hand in class, focusing on school-work and going to school.  

• 9 in 10 young people believe secondary schools should do more to support body image 

Butterfly Foundation, Australia’s national charity for eating disorders and body image concerns, is proud to spotlight BodyKind August, a national initiative that empowers schools, families and sporting clubs to take simple, practical steps to encourage everyone to be kind to their own body and others.  

While Butterfly has provided services and resources for schools and young people for nearly 20 years, , free evidence based classroom materials, tips sheets, digital resources and family activities are being provided in a new month for BodyKind August, helping schools and others who support young people to spark essential conversations and create safe and respectful spaces where all bodies are valued. 

Australia’s largest positive body image initiative couldn’t come at a more critical time, with findings from Butterfly’s BodyKind Youth Survey recently revealing that more than half (53.8%) of young people in Australia aged 12-18 are dissatisfied with how their body looks and two in five never or rarely feel good in their body.  

Worryingly, 7 in 10 say they never or rarely speak to someone if they’re not feeling good about their appearance, and around half of young people said their body image had stopped them to some extent from raising their hand in class, focusing on schoolwork and going to school.  

Body dissatisfaction is an issue that Butterfly is determined to address, says Head of Prevention Services, Helen Bird. 

“We know that body dissatisfaction is linked to mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, self-harm and eating disorders. Young people are telling us they want help and that body image is impacting their schooling, their sports and social relationships. BodyKind August makes it easier for schools, families and communities to respond with engaging resources and a clear message – be kind to your body and others.”     

Butterfly ambassador and professional football player for the Matilda’s Katrina Gorry highlights how this was lacking from her education, but would have made all the difference in her long-term wellbeing and mental health. 

“We didn’t discuss these issues when I was at school, so I think it felt pretty common to be dissatisfied with your body, and I later developed an eating disorder,” she says. 

“I’ve come to realise that having a more positive relationship with my body doesn’t have to be complicated. Small, everyday choices like speaking to ourselves with kindness, treating our bodies with care, and being mindful of how we talk about appearance can make a real difference. It starts with compassion, both for ourselves and others, in real life and online.” 

To mark the launch of BodyKind August, Butterfly is sharing a behind-the-scenes, day in the life video following Katrina’s busy schedule, showing all the small ways she is BodyKind , demonstrating that there is room in everyone’s day to be more BodyKind.    

BodyKind August is Butterfly’s annual mental health promotion initiative, providing free, evidence-based, positive body image resources for schools, teachers, parents, families and sporting clubs.  It’s an opportunity to come together as a community and take simple actions to encourage young people to be BodyKind, to prevent serious mental health concerns, like eating disorders, from developing.  

To find out more and access resources to support positive body image, visit www.butterfly.org.au/bodykindaugust  

-ENDS- 

Media Contact:  

Zoe Bradbury – Butterfly Communications Manager  

Ph: 0400 585 855  

E: zoe.bradbury@butterfly.org.au   

About Butterfly Foundation
Butterfly is the national charity for all Australians impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, and for the families, friends and communities who support them. Butterfly changes lives by providing innovative, evidence-based support services, treatment and resources, prevention and early intervention programs, and by advocating for the needs of our community. 

Editor and producers note:  

Please include the following support line details in all media coverage of this story and refer to the Mindframe Media Guidelines for safe reporting on eating disorders. Please include the following helpline message.  

Help and Support  

Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact:  

• Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online or email, 7 days a week, 8am-midnight (AEST/AEDT). 

• Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23  

• For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14