Have you ever heard someone make a rude comment about someone’s weight, height, skin, or shape—and brush it off as “just a joke”? Or maybe you’ve caught yourself being overly critical about your own body in the mirror. These moments may seem small, but they’re part of a much bigger problem called body shaming.

Body shaming is when someone is judged, criticised, or made to feel bad about how they look. It can come from others, or from ourselves, and it shows up in all kinds of ways—from teasing and online comments to silent stares or unwanted advice. For teenagers, who are already going through major changes and figuring out who they are, body shaming can hit especially hard.

In this post, we’ll break down what body shaming really means, how it shows up in everyday life, and why it’s so harmful. Most importantly, we’ll talk about why it needs to stop—and how we can be part of the change.

What Is Body Shaming?

At its core, body shaming is any action or comment that makes someone feel ashamed or uncomfortable about their physical appearance. It often targets size, shape, skin tone, facial features, height, or anything that doesn’t match “ideal” beauty standards.

Body shaming can sound like:

“You’d be so pretty if you lost weight.”
“You’re too skinny—do you even eat?”
“Your arms are huge.”
“You should really cover up more.”

It can also show up in more subtle ways, like:

Comparing people’s looks out loud or online
Making faces when someone wears a certain outfit
Only praising certain body types
Self-criticizing out loud, which sends the message that other bodies are “wrong,” too

And yes—even jokes count, especially when they make someone feel small or embarrassed.

How It Affects Teenagers

Teenagers are in a time of big changes—physically, emotionally, and socially. That makes this age group especially sensitive to how they’re seen by others. Body shaming can leave deep scars, including:

Lowered self-esteem
Anxiety or depression
Disordered eating habits
Fear of social situations or dressing how they want
Feeling like their worth depends on how they look

What’s even worse? Many teens begin shaming themselves, repeating harsh words they've heard from others in their own heads.

Where Body Shaming Shows Up

Body shaming can happen anywhere—in school, at home, in the locker room, or online. Here are some common places it sneaks in:

Social media: Filtered photos, highlight reels, “ideal bodies,” and toxic comment sections
Friend groups: Teasing, comparisons, or judging people who “don’t fit in”
Family: Unwanted advice or pressure to look a certain way
Pop culture: TV, movies, and ads that push narrow beauty standards

Sometimes people don’t even realize they’re doing it. But that doesn’t make it okay.

Why It Needs To Stop

Body shaming doesn’t motivate people to be “healthier.” It doesn’t build confidence or help anyone “fit in.” It causes harm—real, lasting harm.

Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and seen as more than just their appearance. Our bodies are not meant to all look the same. Diversity is natural—and beautiful.

By ending body shaming, we:

Make space for all people to feel included
Reduce anxiety and pressure around appearance
Help build a culture of kindness and acceptance
Support healthier relationships—with others and ourselves

Final Thought

Your body is not the problem—shame is.

We all deserve to live in a world where we’re valued for who we are, not how we look. By understanding what body shaming is and refusing to let it continue, we’re choosing kindness, empathy, and respect over judgment and insecurity.

So let’s be the generation that stops body shaming in its tracks—and starts lifting each other up instead.