Supporting Girls in a Pressured World with Body Image, Puberty & Social Media with Dr Charlotte Markey

Today I’m joined by Dr Charlotte Markey, Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University and a world-leading expert in body image research with over 25 years of research into body image and eating behaviours.Girls today are facing growing pressures around appearance, and with the rise of social media and the lasting impact of the pandemic, it’s becoming even harder for young people to feel confident and comfortable in their bodies.Charlotte’s updated book, The Body Image Book for Girls, is designed for ages 9–15 and gives practical, evidence-based tools to help girls understand puberty, navigate social media, challenge body image myths, and build a healthier relationship with their bodies.If you’re a parent, teacher, clinician, or someone who cares about the pressures young people are growing up with today, this conversation is for you.Key Takeaways:Why Charlotte released an updated edition, and what’s changed in recent yearsHow shame keeps body image struggles hidden, and why open conversations matterThe different body pressures facing girls and boys todayWhy body image concerns often linger, even in eating disorder recoverySocial media as a risk factor and how to make your feed saferWhy puberty can be a particularly vulnerable time for girls’ body imageHow parents and educators can respond: validate first, ask questions, and seek support earlyTimestamps:00:00: Introduction and Charlotte’s background03:40: Why the book exists and the importance of early support12:20: Clinical insights: body image and eating disorder recovery21:35: Social media, algorithms, and taking breaks30:10: Puberty and body changes38:35: Supporting young people: what adults can doResources & LinksThe Body Image Book series: TheBodyImageBook.comConnect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans PodcastFollow Full of Beans on InstagramCheck out our websiteListen on YouTube⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, weight and appearance pressures, puberty, and social media. Please take care when listening.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us spread awareness.Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛