Written by: Dr. Charlotte Markey
Research shows that most girls’ understanding of themselves and their body image develops right around the same time that their bodies are changing due to puberty. These changes are likely to affect body image. Some scientists have suggested that because girls tend to gain weight and “fill out” during puberty (in other words, they’re less likely to be lanky or skinny after puberty), they’re also less likely to feel good about their bodies after puberty. It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s important to realize that changes to your body shape, growing taller, and gaining weight are all a normal part of growing up.
What sometimes gets missed in all the discussions of puberty and the physical changes is that every girl is unique. No two girls’ experiences are exactly the same and no two bodies are exactly the same. If you get your period before you notice a growth spurt, that’s OK. If you get pimples after you notice a growth spurt, that’s OK too. If you’re in 8th grade, and you don’t notice much about your body that has changed, there’s nothing to stress about. It’s not uncommon for girls to notice some signs of puberty as early as 8 years of age, and it’s also perfectly normal for girls to not have completed puberty until they’re 16 years old. The majority of girls will start puberty before they turn 10, but that doesn’t mean that these changes are necessarily visible (they may be just internal, hormone changes). Most girls will begin to get their period around 12 years of age. There are many things that influence when you’ll experience puberty, from your genes (aka, biological factors) to your cultural environment. Your puberty experiences and the timing of all of this is out of your control, but it’s important that you understand what to expect, to be prepared for the changes that you’ll experience, and to try to appreciate these changes as evidence of your body’s amazing ability to grow.
It’s important for you to know that you WILL gain weight during puberty, and your body shape will change. This is totally normal. Everything about you is getting bigger, even your heart (your heart will nearly double in size!). Plus, you’re probably going to be at least a few inches taller at the end of puberty. One estimate is that girls gain an average of 25 pounds during puberty. It’s completely normal for your body to have wider hips; this is part of becoming a woman. Some girls like how their bodies change during puberty and some girls don’t. Sometimes, it just takes getting used to your new body. And this doesn’t mean that your body is done changing for the rest of your life. If you’re like most people, your body will change in a variety of ways as you get older. Changes can sometimes make people anxious, but you should try to appreciate your body’s ability to adjust and change in so many ways as pretty incredible.
This article was adapted from The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless (2020, Cambridge University Press) by Charlotte Markey.
**************************************************************************************************************
Dr. Charlotte Markey. Psychologist, professor and scientist, Dr. Markey has been a leading body image expert for more than two decades. Now, Dr. Markey applies her academic research, her findings after interviewing hundreds of girls, and her practical experience as mother of a teen to a new, evidence-based yet easy-to-read book for girls ages 9yrs -15yrs. THE BODY IMAGE BOOK FOR GIRLS: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless