When do Body Image Issues Start?
What Age Do Body Image Issues Usually Start?
We have around 10,000 thoughts a day. Think about that for a moment—that’s a lot of mental chatter. Some of those thoughts are positive, others neutral, and many are negative. Over time, we become so accustomed to our internal dialogue that it can be hard to remember a time when these thoughts didn’t exist.
If you’re reading this blog, there’s a good chance you’re struggling with your body image, or how you feel about your appearance. Maybe you constantly notice how your body looks in the mirror or how it feels in the chair or on the couch where you’re sitting now. Can you recall a time when these kinds of thoughts weren’t present? Have you ever asked yourself, “When did my body image issues begin?”
Let’s walk through a general timeline for how body image concerns tend to develop. While everyone’s experience is unique, this outline reflects common patterns observed across age groups.
Early Childhood and Body Awareness
Between the ages of 3 and 6, children begin to develop awareness of their bodies. They may notice size or shape differences between themselves and others—whether peers or adults. Exposure to media also typically increases during this stage, and while some programming may promote body diversity, kids also begin receiving social cues about body norms. Experiences like a relative saying, “Wow, you’ve gotten so big!” can leave a lasting impression. These early encounters lay the foundation for how a child may begin to see—and evaluate—their body.
Between ages 7 and 10, children start school and become involved in extracurricular activities. Media exposure also intensifies, and many shows and movies begin subtly (or overtly) reinforcing messages about beauty, thinness, and appearance. You might be surprised how many offhand comments about weight or looks pop up in what once seemed like harmless childhood entertainment. Meanwhile, peer dynamics grow more complex—social comparison increases, cliques form, and bullying may arise—all of which can fuel body-related self-consciousness.
Adolescence and Body Changes
Body image concerns often peak during adolescence, especially for those exposed to heightened body commentary during childhood. Between ages 9 and 18, teens undergo major physical changes: height, weight, body hair, hormonal fluctuations, voice changes, acne, and more. Because these changes happen at different times for different teens, comparison becomes even more intense.
Unfortunately, the media rarely reflects the full range of teenage development, leading many adolescents to feel confused, ashamed, or isolated in their experiences. Social media adds another layer of pressure, as filters allow teens to “perfect” their appearance online—making the unfiltered version in the mirror feel increasingly disappointing.
To complicate matters further, teens today have more access than ever to harmful advice on changing their appearance. Disordered eating, unsafe exercise routines, and unregulated supplements or medications can become tempting options in the pursuit of looking “better.”
There’s a common phrase in therapy: Just because the stressor is gone doesn’t mean the stress is gone. In other words, growing out of adolescence doesn’t guarantee growing out of body image issues. Adults face a host of life transitions—college, pregnancy, aging—that can all impact body size, shape, and self-perception.
We hear about the “freshman 15,” witness postpartum body changes, and experience visible signs of aging. Unfortunately, society often attaches shame to these natural processes—particularly for women. Ageism and gendered beauty standards frequently show up in narratives like older men pursuing younger women, or older adults expressing they feel “invisible” in public spaces. These messages can reinforce the idea that one’s body must look a certain way to be valued.
Responding to Shifts in Body Image
So, if body image concerns can begin so early and persist across the lifespan—what can we do?
If you're a parent or caregiver hoping to support a child’s healthy body image, start by modeling it yourself. Eat a variety of foods, speak about your body with compassion, avoid comparing different body types, and practice joyful movement. Encourage children to appreciate what their bodies do for them, rather than how they look. This helps prevent self-objectification—focusing on appearance over function.
If you’re reading this because you personally struggle with body image, keep those 10,000 daily thoughts in mind. The more frequently we think negatively about ourselves, the more we start to believe those thoughts. Try speaking to yourself with compassion—and if that feels too hard, start with neutral language. Monitor your media intake, and consider curating your social media feed to follow only body-positive, diverse, and affirming accounts. Lastly, don’t hesitate to seek support from a licensed therapist. Body image healing is possible with the right tools and care.