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Mar 22

Young people in Cornwall using potentially dangerous weight loss methods popularised by celebrities – Cornwall Live

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Cornwall's millennials have been told to forget about having a 'perfect body' or risk putting their health in danger.

According to new figures 60% of 18 to 34-year-olds in the county are damaging their long-term health by using potentially dangerous weight loss methods popularised by celebrities and social media.

Read more: Gifted student Anna Phillips from Truro died of overdose on diet pills she bought over the internet

Four in 10 (38%) are prepared to sacrifice their mental health and well-being through extreme dieting if it meant achieving the ideal weight.

In addition, women are six times more likely to worry about weight and body image than their health (44% compared to 7%).

Dove's Real Beauty Campaign, which was first launched in 2004, to promote beauty in all shapes and sizes.

Emma Kenny, expert psychologist and founder of wellbeing site Make Your Switch, said people have to stop thinking that if their body is not a temple then they should diet hard to achieve it.

Read more: Put a stone on in weight and increase you cancer risk rate by 50%

She said: "It's very sad, but unsurprising that young men and women in Cornwall are willing to take such risks with their mental and physical well-being these days. There is so much emphasis placed on women's bodies and the 'perfection expectation'.

"From a very young age children are being told that the way they look is more important than any other trait. The body shaming that regularly takes place on social media, along with the 'beautiful equals successful' equation, gives women a very powerful message - that they are only valued for their looks.

"This means that men and women are more likely to be willing to harm themselves if it means gaining approval."

A healthy balanced diet is all you need to feel good about yourself. Right?

Risks to achieve the perfect body can lead to mental and physical problems including insomnia, tiredness, dizziness as well as more serious conditions such as heart disease, constipation, diarrhea and even bad breath.

Read more: Campaign to stop tooth decay in children launched in Cornwall by Smile Together

Mrs Kenny said social media, TV shows and celebrities were partly to blame for the "my body is a temple culture".

She said quick fix methods popularised by celebrities and Instagrammers have seen worrying trends among young people from Cornwall with a quarter having used diet pills (26%), three in 10 choose juicing (29%) and a fifth choosing to fast (21%).

Weight loss pills went on sale for the first time in the UK in 2009.

Social media beauty challenges, fitness bloggers and Instagram users and social media trolling have been blamed for body shaming trends.

Their weight (27%)

Skin problems (13%)

Their stomach (13%)

Their personality (7%)

Read more: The Female List: 50 of Cornwall's leading ladies and strongest women

Mrs Kenny said: "We need to build women's self-esteem beyond that of superficial beauty and into something that is more than just skin-deep. At Make Your Switch, we go deeper and explore what it takes to look after your happiness, health, fitness and well-being - which are all equally important."

More Cornwall News

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Young people in Cornwall using potentially dangerous weight loss methods popularised by celebrities - Cornwall Live

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