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Teen corner · Sheet 1
Understanding comparison and taking care of yourself
You look at a photo of yourself and mostly notice what you’d like to change? You can take those thoughts seriously and talk about them. This sheet helps you understand your body image, try practical steps and recognize when professional support can help.
A 4-page comic by Clinique IPS du Palais. Tap a page to enlarge it.
Page 1When comparison creeps in
You deserve respect, even on the days you have doubts.
Page 2My feed and me
I can choose what I let into my feed.
Page 3Respect also starts with words
Taking care of myself can start with a small step.
Page 4I can ask for support
I can ask for help before things get worse.
The comic is in French; the English text is under each page. The characters and situations are made up.
Body image is the way you see your body, the thoughts and feelings you have about it, and the way you treat it. It also includes what you imagine others think of your appearance. It can change with your experiences. [1]
It can be about your weight, your height, your muscles or other physical features. Your worth and your right to respect don’t depend on how you look. You can start by taking care of yourself, even on days when you like your reflection less. [1, 2]
Comments from people around you, beauty standards, the media and some sports settings can shape the way you judge your body. The pressure can be about thinness, muscularity or other features. It can affect young people of all genders and body sizes. [2, 4, 7]
Selected or edited images can become hard-to-reach points of comparison. Research shows links between some ways of using social media, body dissatisfaction and eating concerns. This doesn’t prove that social media alone causes a person’s difficulties. [2, 4]
A question to ask yourself: after looking at this content, do I feel inspired, indifferent or harder on myself?
Pick one or two ideas that suit you. These are suggestions for taking care of yourself, not obligations or a treatment.
You can mute an account that makes you put yourself down and make more room for your interests: music, humour, creating, sports, nature. Also ask yourself whether the content is trying to sell you a physical transformation. [2, 3]
Instead of forcing yourself to find your body perfect, you can say: “Today, my appearance worries me. I can still treat myself with respect.” This sentence is an example suggested for this sheet.
In adolescence, you have needs linked to growth. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends varied, regular eating and advises against restrictive diets. If eating becomes difficult or a source of anxiety, ask for the right support. [4]
You can look for enjoyable activities that suit your abilities: dancing, walking with someone, playing, gardening or creating. You can also rest. Health is about more than appearance and performance. [1, 3]
Write down three things you like about yourself that aren’t about your looks: the way you listen, your curiosity, your creativity, your humour or the way you help. These are examples; choose your own. [2, 3]
You can say: “I’d rather people didn’t comment on my body” or “Can we talk about something other than weight?” If the remarks continue or turn into bullying, get support from an adult you trust. [2]
Finish these sentences, in your head or on paper. You can keep your answers to yourself.
This activity is an invitation to reflect. It is not used to screen for or diagnose a problem.
You can talk about your worries before they take up all the space. You don’t need to be able to name what you’re going through to ask for an appointment.
Contact a health professional if you notice changes like these, or if you’re worried about your well-being. [5, 6]
These signs alone can’t be used to make a diagnosis. An eating disorder can go unnoticed in a person whose weight seems usual or high. An assessment takes into account behaviours, growth, and physical and mental health. [6]
“Thoughts about my body and food are taking up a lot of space. I’d like to talk about it with someone who can help me.”
You can choose a parent or another adult you trust, someone from your school team, a nurse, a nurse practitioner or a doctor. If talking is hard, you can show this sheet or write a few lines.
At Clinique IPS du Palais, from age 14, you can book an appointment without your parents. Contact us →
To talk about difficulties with eating and body image. Listening and referral line.
Current hours on anebquebec.com. [8]Phone, text or chat, with counsellors (in French).
1 800 263-2266Text 1 866 811-4811teljeunes.com
Every day from 8 a.m. to midnight, according to teljeunes.com, checked on October 28, 2026. [9]Non-urgent psychosocial support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
[10]If your safety or someone else’s is at risk, or for a serious problem that needs urgent help.
Or go to the emergency room.The situations and lines in this section were made up for this sheet. They suggest ways to respond, without describing a real experience.
Maya receives a photo taken with her friends. Her first reflex is to compare herself. She writes: “Delete it, I look horrible.” Her friend answers her privately: “I can see this photo makes you uncomfortable. Want to talk about it?”
Maya can ask for the photo to be removed and name what she feels: “Lately, I compare myself a lot. I’d like us to stop commenting on bodies.”
Think about itWhat could help Maya feel respected? Who could she talk to if these thoughts keep coming back?
In the locker room, Alex hears: “You should bulk up more.” He answers: “My body isn’t a topic of discussion.” Later, he talks about it with an adult he trusts instead of staying alone with the pressure.
Think about itHow could a witness step in without commenting on Alex’s body too?
If someone tells you they feel uneasy about their body, you can listen without judging their appearance and suggest looking for support. Avoid prescribing a diet or judging what they eat. [4, 5]
A possible answer“Thanks for telling me. I can see it’s hard. Would you like me to go with you to talk to someone?”
Another possible answer“I care about you. We can look for help together.”
You can be there without becoming responsible for your friend’s care. If you’re worried about their safety, tell an adult you trust; in immediate danger, get urgent help. [10]
You have the right to ask for respect and support today. To start, choose a caring step, a limit to set or a person to talk to.
Sources checked on October 28, 2026. The numbers in brackets refer to the references below. “No date” means no publication or update date was shown on the page consulted. Most sources are in French.
The practical ideas and made-up scenes are an original educational adaptation. The references support the health information; they do not mean the organizations cited have approved this sheet.
This sheet provides general information. It does not replace a personal assessment. Resources and their hours may change; check their official pages for updates. Page published on October 28, 2026.
