A poll carried out by Girl Guiding UK on 1,100 girls found that 42% of girls aged between 11 and 16 year old are dieting. The report was carried out on girls NOT within the Girl Guide movement.

The survey found that teens and girls aged younger fear feeling fat. Girls fear being fat so much that 12% of the girls surveyed also said they are considering having a gastric band fitted to stop them gaining weight.

In the survey girls aged between 11 and 16 years old were asked their attitudes and opinions on body image, sexual health, binge drinking and eating habits and disorders. The report also highlights that 50% of the girls asked have suffered from stress, a figure which rises to 75% form girls aged between 16 and 21 years old.

The landmark study into girls also found the following:

• 5% of 7 to 9 year old girls want to be slimmer
• 5% of 11 to 16 year olds have already considered botox
• 27% of 11 to 16 year olds have vomitted or lost control due to alcohol

Not only that but a third of girls aged between 7 and 16 years old said X-Factor judge and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole was their ideal role model.