Body image is the subjective representation of one’s physical appearance that reflects perceptions, opinions and feelings connected to one’s body. The importance of body image particularly stands out as it gets compromised or distorted during growth and development when it begins to create problems in an individual’s various areas of functioning. This study reviews the research of body dissatisfaction as one of body image disorders which are particularly pronounced during adolescence, a period of numerous and drastic physical changes. Although body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls is very common in Western cultures, its presence is not negligible in adolescent boys either. Their preoccupation with muscle tone and strategies of increasing muscle mass stand out as important issues related to body image. There are many factors which influence the formation and maintenance of body dissatisfaction. This paper presents an overview of some developmental and social factors, such as pubertal timing and parental and peer influence. The techniques of body dissatisfaction assessment are presented at the end of this paper.

body image, body dissatisfaction, adolescence, pubertal timing, parental influence, peer influence, body dissatisfaction assessment