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40% of Childline contacts around body image and eating problems take place during the summer

Childline is expecting more contacts about body image and eating problems as the summer holidays begin

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  • Our Childline service gave over 4,000 counselling sessions around body image and eating problems in the last year
  • 40% of these took place between June and September
  • We want children to know the service is here to support them during the summer holidays

In the last year, Childline, our counselling service for children and young people, delivered over 4,000 counselling sessions to children struggling with body image and eating problems.

40% of these took place during the summer months between June to September. The lead up to and the duration of the six-week summer break.

As the summer holidays approach, we know that many children might be struggling to cope. Our trained counsellors at Childline are here to support all children with any worries they might have.

A girl, 16, reached out to Childline and said*:

“Summer is my least favourite time of year, it brings up all my negative thoughts about my body. Everyone’s talking about getting “summer ready”, how can I not think about it all the time?”

Childline counselling sessions

Eating problems and body image were the 8th most common concern for children contacting Childline in the past year.

Common themes from Childline counselling sessions on body image and eating problems include:

  • Comparison to friends, siblings, and people on social media.
  • Guilt around eating foods they perceive as “bad”, or around eating at all.
  • Negative comments about their weight and body. These can be from from family members, friends, bullies, and partners.
  • Worries around having gained weight during the COVID-19 lockdowns
  • Going to extremes with fitness and trying to lose weight
  • Cancelling plans due to worries about body image

A boy, 13, told Childline*:

“I feel so guilty every time I eat. I’ve been trying to be healthy and cut down on food, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. My older siblings are all so skinny, everyone says they’re so handsome and look like models, then there’s just me. It’s been upsetting me so much lately, thank you for letting me offload how I’m feeling.”

Summer holidays

There are lots of things that make the summer holidays a tricky time for children and young people. This can be even more tricky for those who are struggling with their body image or relationship with food.

Some of the factors that can contribute to this, include:

  • Summer clothing - For some children, the idea of wearing clothing that shows more of their body, can make them feel pressured to look a certain way. They might feel that they need to lose weight or change their appearance to wear these clothes.
  • Online content - Online spaces can be good for children to keep in touch with their friends and stay entertained over the summer holidays. But, more time spent online means they might see more things that make them feel bad about they way they look.
  • Change to routine -  Children and young people can struggle to cope with the changes to their routines and eating habits over the summer holidays. This can be even more notable in those who already struggle with eating problems.

Kieran Lyons, Service Head of Childline said:

“Every year our trained counsellors speak to hundreds children in the run up to and during the summer holidays who are struggling with their body image or eating disorders.

“Summer can be a really a tough time for anyone who is already dealing with these issues, and it also can be a time which can make others who ordinarily felt happy with their body image begin to feel negatively.

“Regardless of your situation or your worries, Childline is here to ensure that no child is left to cope alone with any worry they have.

“If you are struggling with your body image or an eating disorder, we want you to know that Childline is here to help, and we can support you on what you can do and how to make things feel better.”

Childline

Childline is a safe, confidential place available to all children and young people. They can speak to a trained counsellor on 0800 1111, via email, or on a 1-2-1 chat on the Childline website. Childline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Childline website has lots of advice on any concerns or questions children and young people might have. There is information and advice about body image and eating problems. They can also use our monitored message boards to talk to and get support from other young people.

Visit Childline

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Notes:

*Snapshots are based on real Childline service users but are not necessarily direct quotes. All names and potentially identifying details have been changed to protect the identity of the child or young person involved

Across the whole year  - April 2022 to March 2023 -  Childline delivered 4,179 counselling sessions to  children struggling with  these issues. 1656 (40%) of those counselling sessions based on these topics took place from June to September , the lead up to and the duration of the six-week summer break.