More than half (53.8%) of young people reported being dissatisfied with how their body looks, and more than one in three (37.5%) said they were mostly or completely dissatisfied with their appearance, according to a new survey.
Now in its third year, Butterfly Foundation’s BodyKind Youth Survey provides a nationwide glimpse into the levels of body satisfaction and body image experiences of a large sample of young people in Australia aged 12 to 18.
Read more: Tips for teachers to encourage positive body image for students
Overall, the findings of the survey suggest that body dissatisfaction continues to be a significant issue for young Australians.
Body satisfaction by gender
More than two thirds of males (67.3%) reported some level of body satisfaction, compared with 32.8% of females and just 24.8% of trans and gender diverse young people. Among respondents from the LGB+ community, approximately two-thirds reported some level of body dissatisfaction, while around half reported a high level of dissatisfaction.
Body dissatisfaction was highest among 17-18-year-olds, at 65.7% and 60.1%, respectively. Similar rates were observed across other age groups, with between 42.6% and 53.9% reporting some level of body dissatisfaction.
Overall, 90% of young people expressed some level of concern about their body image. Two in five (41.6%) reported a high level of concern – slightly lower than the 2023 survey findings (46.4%).
High levels of concern were most common among young people who preferred not to say their gender (46.6%), females (46.3%), and trans and gender diverse respondents (40.2%). A similar proportion of gay, lesbian and bisexual youth also reported being very or extremely concerned (over 45%).
‘It’s about wellbeing generally’
Helen Bird, Butterfly Head of Prevention said the findings from the BodyKind Youth Survey over the last three years have been consistent with around half of all respondents reporting that they were dissatisfied with how they look.
“In many ways the findings confirm what we have been seeing anecdotally in our own work with young people and what the thousands of educators we train each year have been telling us – but it is still sobering to see those statistics in black and white,” Bird told The Educator.
“It’s also confronting to see the impact it’s having on young people’s everyday lives – their participation in school, sports and how they connect with friends.”
Bird said that while it’s common to view this issue primarily through the lens of eating disorder prevention, its implications reach far wider.
“It’s about wellbeing generally and ensuring young people can grow up and be all they can be in life, free from the constraints of appearance pressures,” she said.
“These findings serve as a powerful reminder that we must continue to act—proactively and strategically —to help children and young people live more positively in their body, and build resilience in an ever-changing world before negative body image becomes a lifelong struggle.”
Social media: A double-edged sword
The survey found that 39.6% of respondents thought social media was the best way for young people to get information about body image, yet more than half of respondents said social media made them feel dissatisfied with their body.
When asked if the Federal Government’s social media ban for under-16s will help address this issue in a constructive way, Bird was sceptical.
“While social media has been an undeniable force and influence on body image, body image is a complex issue and Butterfly does not believe that increasing the age of access is enough to improve safety for young people online; dangerous and harmful content does not disappear when users turn 16,” she said.
Bird said Butterfly agrees with the eSafety Commissioner that social media may also provide a range of opportunities that are protective of mental health, such as inclusion, social connection and belonging.
“These benefits are especially important for young people who experience difficulties with participation and social inclusion in other contexts. Social media also offers the opportunity to access support and help,” she said.
“In saying that, we also recognise that findings from Butterfly’s BodyKind Youth Survey indicate that more than half (57.2%) of young people report that social media makes them feel unhappy with their bodies, and that over 74% never or rarely taking a break from social media because it was affecting how they felt about their bodies.”
Bird said these results indicate that we must equip and empower young people with the social media literacy skills to use these platforms safely and ensure that their social media use is fostering body confidence, not dissatisfaction.
“Butterfly’s new e-learning program BodyKind Online Education takes a strength-based approach to help students navigate social media and online environments in a safe and positive way,” she said.
“The program helps them to spot and challenge harmful and unhelpful health, body and beauty ideals, and build skills and strategies to be kind to their own body and to others.”
Launching in secondary schools in Australia in Term 3, the evidence based digital program has been shown to enhance media literacy skills and foster self-compassion in young people in an independent evaluation.
“It’s also important to respect the views of young people and include them in the conversation,” Bird noted. “Interestingly, the 2024 BodyKind Youth Survey was also the first year in which we asked respondents about what age should people be allowed to access social media, and more than half of young people thought that age 13-14 should be when young people are allowed to access social media.”
‘Principals have a pivotal role to play’
Looking ahead, Bird said there are strategies school principals can use to help improve education and support around body image in their schools.
“Across three years of more than 90% of students have asked for better training and resources for their educators,” Bird said. “School principals have a pivotal role to play here, by prioritising professional development for staff, embedding evidence-informed body image education in both primary and secondary settings, and ensuring anti-bullying policies explicitly address appearance-based teasing.”
However, prevention goes far beyond education, Bird pointed out.
“It’s about shifting culture. That means making sure our schools are safe and positive environments for all people in all bodies,” she said. “Initiatives like Butterfly’s BodyKind August are a simple yet powerful way for principals to lead this change.”
Through free classroom activities, tip sheets, videos and posters, the Butterfly annual awareness initiative helps schools, families and sporting clubs engage with body image issues in a safe, age-appropriate and positive way by encouraging everyone to be kind to their own body and to others.
“This evidence-backed concept supports body image and mental health. We also encourage principals to consider the unique needs of gender diverse and LGBTQIA+ young people in all wellbeing efforts as the data clearly shows higher rates of body dissatisfaction in these groups,” she said.
“With the right support, principals can help shape a future where every student feels valued in their body – just as they are.”
For confidential & free support for eating disorders call the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) or visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online or email.
For the safe reporting and portrayal of eating disorders, click here.