Reflections in the Mirror: Unveiling High School Students′ Body Image Opinions

School is an environment that helps shape attitudes and beliefs forming the body image. The topic is very relevant in the context of adolescents′ well‐being and their involvement in education. Many studies highlight the importance of well‐being, positive body image, and levels of experienced happiness during adolescence and its effects on personality and ability development. Higher levels of personal well‐being in adulthood act as a protective factor against the development of psychological disorders, and individuals are characterized by higher levels of resilience. High levels of well‐being and positive body image are also predictors of better academic performance and social relationships and have a positive effect on an individual′s overall self‐concept. Low levels of personal well‐being at school age significantly affect creativity, intelligence, personality development, and school performance. Using a quantitative methodology with a research cohort ( n = 1200 high school students aged 15–18), this study analyzes students′ body satisfaction, their body care, and their perceptions of sociocultural body ideals. The results indicate that 51% of high school students are dissatisfied with their own bodies, 31% declare the need to change their body weight, 79% of adolescents care about their health, and 82% care about their appearance. At the same time, they compare their body shape with an ideal that less than half of the students believe exists.