Keeping it Real with Clara Whaley Perkins

Q: Hi, Dr. Whaley Perkins. Welcome to Keeping It Real. So, tell us about your background.

A: I’m a licensed psychologist in private practice in Philadelphia, with over 20 years of experience. I have a specialty in women’s health, and I have an interest in helping women deal with some of the challenges that life presents at various stages. Most of my clients are in their 30s and 40s. But I do see teens, starting at age 13. I’ve been running groups for women since 1986, both privately and for city government employees. At one point, many women coming to see me had eating addictions and were struggling with problems of body image, weight and self-esteem. A few of my clients also were anorexic.

Q: This week, we're talking about body image - especially as it relates to teens. At 16, what kinds of things are happening?

A: Sixteen is the coming-of-age time for females. They are no longer children. They are more aware of their bodies. And one of their primary concerns is fitting in. So, weight and body image are very important as they see it around them in other females. They want the respect and attention of their peers. So, those who are slightly overweight don’t fit in as neatly as those who are average or thin.

Q: Do you commonly find that young women feel uncomfortable with their bodies? If so, is this normal? And at what point do these feelings subside?

A: Generally speaking, they’re uncomfortable with their bodies. It is normal. They are preoccupied with what they consider imperfections - too big a nose, legs that are too thin, too much fat around the waste. It tends to subside at 18 or 19.

Q: Do you commonly find that young women feel they should look like models in magazines? If so, do these feelings subside?

A: Yes, teenage girls tend to rely on magazines to set the standards for what their bodies should look like. I’d like to note, however, that when I’ve talked to boys about the same issue, they think the girls in magazines are too thin. Generally, it goes on until the mid-20s.

Q: How much of a role does advertising play in our perception of ourselves?

A: Teens are highly influenced by what they see in magazines. What’s interesting is that years ago, the fashion industry concluded that a thin body carried clothes better than an average body. They wanted you to focus on the clothes, not the body. It’s interesting that people have taken the interest in the clothes and turned that into a standard for weight. If you look around, very few women look like that. And we all know it’s common practice with models to starve themselves to look like that.

Q: How can you tell when someone is having difficulty with body image, weight or self-esteem?

A: Over dieting. They put themselves down. Sometimes they won’t eat what they’re supposed to because they’re afraid it will make them fat, and ... they’ll [often] say they’re fat. Some of the flags that they’re moving into a very unhealthy relationship with their body are when they’re clearly underweight, refuse to eat, and binge and purge. They’re too thin. And their rib cage and bones show in thinner clothes.

Q: How can women help younger women who are having difficulty with issues of weight, image and self-esteem?

A: One thing is to talk to them about your concerns. To not let [binging and purging] become the pink elephant in the room where everyone knows it’s going on, but no one’s talking about it. You want to encourage them to eat balanced meals. Anorexia and bulimia center around control. So, you want to encourage them to eat healthy, but not a full meal. When they say that they’re fat, don’t disagree. You want to affirm that they feel they look fat, but you don’t want to get into power struggles over whether they have an accurate description of their bodies... You could say, "I know that’s the way it looks, but you look fine to me," basically diffusing the tension around their bodies. It’s important for teenagers to know they are not their bodies and to get them to develop interests. And if it still doesn’t seem to be helping, you should seek a professional who can help them deal with the problems they’re having with body image and weight.

Q: What resources are there for women who may be having difficulty and may need help?

A: For women who are compulsive overeaters, their are support groups called Overeaters Anonymous. There are medications to help women who are overeating and experiencing depression along with problems with food. There are professionals who deal specifically with anorexia and bulimia. Sometimes Acupuncture helps. Weight Watchers is also very good. They talk about developing healthy eating habits. It’s a positive environment for teens who want help with their weight. Sometimes it’s a matter of eating the right foods for your body type.

Q: What is your fitness routine?

A: I exercise three to five time a week 35 minutes to an hour. My favorites activities are swimming, walking, bicycling and various aerobics. When it’s warm, I’m bicycling and swimming. When the weather changes, I’m doing more aerobic and strength training and some walking.