More than 3,300 counselling sessions were delivered last year as young people described pressure from influencers, calorie-counting videos and unrealistic beauty standards

CHILDLINE is preparing for an increase in children and young people seeking support over body image concerns and eating disorders during the summer holidays.

New figures from the NSPCC-run service show that 3,364 counselling sessions were delivered between April 2025 and March 2026 to young people worried about their appearance, weight or relationship with food.

Demand was particularly high during the summer, with almost 1,000 sessions taking place across June, July and August.

Childline says warmer weather and the approach of family holidays can intensify anxiety among young people who feel uncomfortable wearing summer clothing or swimwear.

Counsellors are also hearing from children who feel under pressure to look like influencers they follow online.

Some have described repeatedly watching “what I eat in a day” and calorie-counting videos, which can encourage unhealthy habits including severe food restriction.

A 15-year-old from Wales told the service: “I hate everything about my body. I try to restrict for as long as I can, but then I binge and feel guilty that I ruined any progress that I made.

“I have so many other things I should be focusing on, like my friends and my exams, but weight and calories are all I can think about.”

Another girl, aged 12, described how bullying and comparisons with people she saw online had affected her eating.

She said: “This girl at school would always call me fat. My friends are all skinny, the girls I see on TikTok are skinny.

“I started purging and skipping meals last year and I’m finally skinny, but mum finally noticed and gets angry when I don’t eat properly. I can’t go back to eating three meals a day again, I can’t go back to being fat.”

Shaun Friel, Childline director, said the summer could place additional pressure on children who already felt anxious about their bodies.

He said: “With the warm weather continuing and families planning their summer holidays, young people might be finding themselves in positions where they feel anxious about their body.

“To cope, some young people are taking drastic measures, such as restricting their food intake or, in some instances, developing disordered eating behaviours.

“Children are also telling us that unrealistic beauty standards are affecting their wellbeing and self-worth, with many comparing themselves to others, particularly influencers on social media.

“Childline wants every young person to know that whatever they’re going through, our trained counsellors are here to listen without judgment. Seeking help is always a sign of strength, not weakness.”

Advice for parents

The NSPCC is encouraging parents and carers to be mindful of how they speak about their own bodies and the appearance of others in front of children.

Conversations about food and exercise should focus on health, strength and wellbeing rather than weight or appearance.

Parents are also advised to take concerns seriously, listen without judgment and avoid dismissing a child’s feelings by simply telling them they “look fine”.

They can help children understand that photographs and videos online are often edited or present unrealistic standards, while limiting exposure to content that promotes extreme dieting or unhealthy attitudes towards weight.

Warning signs can include sudden changes in eating habits, excessive exercise, low mood, secrecy around food or withdrawal from friends and family.

Early support can be important, and parents should consider seeking professional advice where they notice worrying behaviour.

Children can contact Childline free on 0800 1111 or speak to a counsellor through the Childline website using email or one-to-one online chat.

Source: NSPCC Cymru press release.

WALES AIR AMBULANCE has received a massive donation of £1,600 from Tenby Golf Club after a competition to raise funds for the charity. Natwest staff also aim to raise £60,000 this Sunday after a sponsored hike up Mount Snowdon.

Wales Air Ambulance is a charity that was founded in 2001, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Since then, it has successfully undertaken over 57,000 missions, providing a life saving service for the people of Wales.

It provides helicopter emergency medical services service free of charge, serving those who are critically ill and injured. Its Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service allows medical specialists too provide life-saving care at the scene of a medical incident. These services include blood transfusions and even minor operations.

But this service still desperately needs donations to operate. Costing £13 million a year, Tenby Golf Club and Natwest both stepped up this week too contribute.

The Tenby Golf Club President’s Open Day took place on Tuesday (7th July) to raise funds through a raffle. Prizes consisted of ‘four ball vouchers to play at ‘12
outstanding courses’ across South Wales.’

This raised an amazing £1,600 for Welsh Air Ambulance. Tenby Golf Club has raised a combined £5,500 for the charity throughout its history.

Natwest also plans to raise £60,000 this Sunday. Its North and South West Wales staff plan to do a sponsored walk up Wales’ tallest mountain, Mount Snowdon. Other Natwest branches have previously undertaken simar hikes for charities, including a veteran care village in Salford, raising over £10,000.

Nadine Bartlett, a personal banker at Natwest’s Aberystwyth branch, said: ‘we are just doing all we can to make a lifesaving difference.’

These combined efforts could potentially raise over £60,000 for Welsh Air Ambulance. This contributes massively to fill the £13 million bloc needed to keep these life-saving helicopters in the air.

You can donate here to help the Natwest team reach their £60,000 goal.

A £26,273 donation from the West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group has helped create a calmer and more comfortable space for patients undergoing cancer treatment

A GENEROUS charitable donation has helped transform the patient waiting room at Glangwili Hospital’s Chemotherapy Day Unit.

Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, has used a £26,273 donation from the West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group to fund a major refurbishment of the unit’s waiting room and adjacent kitchen.

The West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group is a patient-led group of volunteers working across West and South West Wales, offering support to prostate cancer patients, as well as their families and friends.

The project has created a more welcoming, comfortable and calming environment for patients receiving treatment, along with relatives and carers who accompany them to appointments.

Before the refurbishment, the waiting area was described as dated, dark and uninviting, in contrast to the compassionate care provided by staff within the unit. Patients can often spend long periods in the space before treatment or clinic appointments.

The work included the removal of old fixtures, full redecoration, new flooring and ceiling, the purchase of more comfortable furniture, and the addition of artwork to help improve the atmosphere.

Gina Beard, Lead Cancer Nurse, said: “We are so grateful for the donation from the West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group, which has enabled us to transform the space.

“This has made a real difference to our patients. We’ve been able to create a space that feels less clinical and more comforting. The calming colours and comfortable seating help ease anxiety and make a difficult time a little more bearable for patients and their loved ones.”

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, added: “We are deeply grateful to the West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group for their donation.

“Your generosity has enabled us to create a pleasant and relaxing space for patients and their families.”

Hywel Dda Health Charities supports NHS patients and staff across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.