FACTS AND FIGURES

As well as our own studies into the need for this project we found a study by HSBC (Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children: WHO Collaborative Cross-National Survey). They released a briefing paper in 2003 entitled ‘Mental well-being among schoolchildren in Scotland: age and gender patterns, trends and cross-national comparisons’. Some of the findings from this paper are discussed below:

• When Scottish schoolchildren were asked if they were very happy just over 50% of girls aged 11 said they were. Only 32% of girls who were aged 15 said they were very happy.
• When asked about their bodies, 34% of 11 year olds felt they were too fat while over 50% of 15 year olds said they thought they were too fat.
• In terms of always feeling confident 24% of 11 year olds reported that they were while only 11% of 15 year olds always felt confident.

These findings seem to highlight the fact that the overall happiness and confidence of girls begins to decline around the age of 13. These statistics relate to the new project as it is to this decline that we aim to offer early intervention and ultimately prevention by offering girls/young women an environment of acceptance and healthy attitudes to appearance while increasing fitness levels.

We also did our own study with bellydance students in our local area to see if we were right in thinking that bellydance could improve confidence and body image. 81 completed questionnaires were received from women aged 16 to 70. Below are our findings:

In addition to our own findings there is a growing body of evidence, including reports published by organisations such as the Mental Health Foundation, which show the beneficial effects of exercise therapy for mental health disorders due to the body's natural release of endorphins during excercise. Belly dance can be as gentle as Yoga or as vigorous as aerobics.

Belly dance also provides an "inward focus" that certain health professionals believe to be necessary and vital to mental health.