Children in Odense benefit from Spejlven project combating body image issues

In their sixth grade, Anna-Lucia Kjær Christensen and Karoline Øland Frandsen found it difficult to shower with classmates after physical education, as their bodies did not resemble the flat stomachs and slim waists they frequently saw on social media. “I was insecure about my body because those I looked up to on social media were thinner than me. It made me afraid that I wasn’t good enough and that others would look down on me,” Karoline shared.

According to a study by Sex & Samfund, post-gym showers are a source of anxiety for many children who fear exposing their bodies. However, everything changed when their entire class at Højmeskolen in Odense participated in the Spejlven project, which educates children about realistic body ideals to help prevent low self-esteem and distress. “We learned that you shouldn’t believe everything you see on the internet,” Karoline stated.

The Spejlven program, supported by Nordea-fonden, is now expanding to include the entire middle school, covering children in grades 4 and 5, starting as young as 10 years old. The increasing access to social media at a younger age exposes children sooner to a perfect—often edited—world. Laila Walther, director of the Association for Eating Disorders and Self-Harm, notes that by sixth grade, it may be too late to foster healthy habits, as many children have already stopped having lunch together and feel uncomfortable showering in front of peers.

Anna Bjerre, director of Girltalk, emphasizes that early intervention is key, as social media contributes to distorted body images that can negatively impact children’s self-esteem and mental health. Anna-Lucia and Karoline, now in eighth grade, both feel a marked difference when it comes time to shower after gym class. “I now know that everyone has different bodies and has faced challenges like I have, so I no longer want to hide my body,” concludes Karoline.