BodyKind Youth Survey Findings 2024
Now in its third year, the BodyKind Youth Survey, proudly supported by the nib foundation, provides a nationwide snapshot of of body image in a large sample of young people in Australia aged 12 to 18 years.
download the 2024 snapshot report
The BodyKind Youth Survey is part of Butterfly’s BodyKind initiative.
*Of the 1648 young people surveyed, over half reported being dissatisfied with how their body looks and 90% had some level of concern about their body image.
*Nearly half of young people never or rarely feel comfortable with their body.
*75% wished they were thinner and 67% wished they were more muscular.
*Around half said their body image had stopped them to some extent from raising their hand in class, focusing on schoolwork and going to school.
*Nearly 8 in 10 have received negative comments or been teased about their appearance.
*57% said social media made them feel dissatisfied with their body.
*The overwhelming majority believe high schools need to do more to support body image.
What young people told us about their body image
How are young people being BodyKind?
Whether through nourishing our bodies, engaging in movement that bring us joy, or being mindful of the way we speak about our own and other people’s bodies, these small actions can make a big difference and help us move towards a more BodyKind Australia.
What body image challenges do young people face on social media?
More than half (57.2%) of young people report that social media makes them feel dissatisfied with their bodies. We hit the streets of Sydney to explore why.
How does comparison and appearance ideals impact young people?
Nearly half of all young people in Australia are ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ comfortable with their bodies. We asked young people why they think some people are so hard on themselves when it comes to appearance and bodies.
How do young people help friends struggling with body image?
If someone is struggling with their body image, we know that reaching out for support can help. But our BodyKind Youth Survey revealed that over 73% of young people ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ talk to someone when they’re feeling bad about their body or appearance.
Findings by state - *Note: Individualised State/Territory reports were only produced for those with more than 100 responses
”These results again demonstrate how critical it is to be in schools, having real conversations with young people and educators, and giving them strategies and tools to support body image and encourage healthy eating and exercise behaviours.” – Helen Bird, Head of Prevention, Butterfly Foundation.
Share the BodyKind Youth Survey Findings
Resources for families with teens and young people
Resources for educators and professionals working with teens and young people
Find out more about Butterfly's BodyKind Youth Survey
Butterfly is on a mission to create a more BodyKind Australia, where young people grow up treating their own and all bodies with kindness and respect.
Who better to guide us, than young people themselves?
Do you have a question? Contact us at education@butterfly.org.au
