by Caity (caityalexus)

Body shaming is defined as a type of bullying and antagonistic behavior that attacks the mental state of a victim through verbal remarks about their body. A person's attitude to a victim can also be considered body shaming.

"I think body shaming is when you make fun of someone or make them feel alienated about their weight or size. No one deserves that. In my eyes, it's abuse. Mentally and emotionally, I think it's not just bullying, it's abuse." says one teen (who chose to remain anonymous) when I asked what she thought body shaming was.

In today's society, both males and females face a specific stigma when it comes to the way their body should be shaped, proportioned, and weighed. It's a typical stereotype that girls should have an "hourglass" figure with "curves in the right places", and boys should have abs and muscles.

And then, just when you think you've achieved "the perfect body", the stigmas change. There's never a Switzerland - a middle ground - when trying to compromise who does and who doesn't fit the category.

A prime example of the flippant way the stigma changes is flipping through a teen or beauty magazine. On one page you see a new diet being promoted, the next displays a curvy model talking about embracing yourself, and the next one talks about new fitness tips. It's a never ending coin toss between heads and tails.

"People used to call me fat constantly, and then when I lost weight people started to shame me for being skinny." Lizzie says when asked about her experiences with body shaming.

No matter how it's stated in a humorous situation, or helpful intentions, body shaming is basically telling you that who you are is ugly, unacceptable within society's standards, and not worthy of desire or love. It isn't to be taken lightly, or treated as a joke. The more body shaming occurs, the more it's picked up by the younger ones and the cycle of self loathing and desire to be accepted continues.

"I felt powerless and like I was not good enough to be loved." Jasmin said during her interview.

Some of the damaging effects to a victim of body shaming are depression, anxiety, low self esteem and a lack of confidence in oneself. It's more than a moment of self doubt, yet people blow it off as meaningless.

Research has proven that the more someone is body shamed and torn down, the more medical related problems they'll have. Why? Because these women and men find it hard to accept things that come naturally to their bodies and start denying their bodies of the basic needs such as food and drink.

One girl (who asked to be left anonymous) speaks of the topic she's passionate about. "As women, as girls, and as men, as boys. As human beings, I believe we should be building each other up. Not tearing each other down. The only way we can combat this disease that's taken over our minds is to stop judging and start accepting. Every single one of us is perfect, so this search for it needs to end now."