State of the Georgia Girl Report

Healthy Behaviors Girls must develop the foundational skills to care for their physical needs during adolescence before the independence of adulthood. Learning how to build healthy habits such as eating balanced meals, getting physical exercise, and maintaining a positive self-view are proven to support long-term physical wellness later in adulthood (Harris, 2005). Girls in Georgia are developing the skill of learning healthy eating habits under the threat of external pressures and harmful social beliefs. According to parents in the National Survey of Children’s Health, 1 in 12 girls in Georgia presents concerning eating habits , such as binge eating, skipping meals or fasting, or unusually low interest in food.

girls present concerning eating habits, like skipping meals or binge eating, according to their parents. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, National Survey of Children’s Health, 2022–2023, Indicator 1.4. 1 in 12

Research shows that girls face biased social expectations about their weight and size, contributing to body dissatisfaction and distorted eating habits (Gordon, 2021). As girls internalize these beliefs, extensive bodies of research prove that serious physical and emotional consequences develop, including eating disorders, depressive symptoms, and lower rates of physical activity. Setting girls up for long-term physical health requires that communities create a culture

One in five middle or high school girls has avoided food, thrown up, or used laxatives in order to lose weight - twice the rate of boys. Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Student Health Survey, 2023-2024.

that fosters healthy eating habits without attaching judgment to girls’ physical appearance.

POWERED BY THE GIRL SCOUT COUNCILS SERVING THE STATE OF GEORGIA 25