Skin is in -- and lots of it. Teen girls brazenly bare their bellies, including those who have obvious belly to bear -- if you get my drift on midriffs. It's tough to ignore the latest phenomenon as many young girls, regardless of shape and size, enthusiastically adopt the low-riding jeans and belly-baring tops made fashionable by pop icons like Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears.

One wonders if there's finally an attitude shift about body image among young women. Are unrealistic, stick-thin beauty ideals of the past few decades being cast aside and more normal body shapes being accepted?

"Certainly there is a backlash among some adolescents to the Twiggy, Kate Moss, Calista Flockhart, even Jennifer Aniston look," says Andrea Marks a New York specialist in adolescent medicine. "Many bright, intelligent, strong and secure girls are saying in words and actions that they can be body-proud and self-assured, as well as stylish, without having a thin body.

"This is definitely a good thing, since most of our bodies are far from perfect and it is only natural for most girls to have some fullness in various locations," she adds. "Not all girls need to meet an ideal in order to feel good about themselves."

Heavier girls want to be stylish too.

"Many of them feel quite comfortable exposing a less than perfect midriff -- in fact, some of them are making a very loud and clear statement that they don't buy in to the only-flat-bellies ideal," says Marks, an associate clinical professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Barrie therapist Anita Pal agrees most teens want to emulate their idols in dress and fashion, regardless of body shape.

"I hope that the trend of girls, small and large, wearing shorter T-shirts does reflect a rebellion against Barbie doll figures and skeletal values of beauty," says Pal.

Ellen is one teen who does not believe thin is in. "I would never want to be skinny." says the 15-year-old Mississauga student. "I'm comfortable with how I look and what I wear."

She says she's seen a greater acceptance of realistic body shapes, "thanks to J.Lo and Britney Spears, who are not size 2. It's in to have a big butt and a bit of a stomach. We're not like sticks, but we're not overweight. Curves are in."

Her mom, Julie, on the other hand, finds today's fashions a headache. "Just try finding clothes at brand-name stores that are fashionable yet aren't revealing. It's extremely frustrating. A lot of fashions today are either inappropriate or old."

Julie adds that teen girls don't seem as obsessed with their weights as previous generations.

Jessica, 17, says high school hallways are filled with bared bellies of all shapes and sizes and she considers it an "ugly fashion trend.

"I just don't think it's flattering, because the low-riding jeans generally push fat up and out. But I'd never voice my opinion because I'd be viewed as intolerant and a fat hater."

Nevertheless, Jessica adds, "as long as they're not obese and their health is not at risk, people should feel okay showing off their bodies."

While there may be greater body acceptance -- and it's definitely long overdue -- is there a flip side?

Statistics indicate general body sizes are increasing, and what about the health risks of bigger bodies?

"There is a big difference between girls accepting a variety of body sizes and shapes that occur naturally, and flaunting or promoting obesity as an ideal or desirable state," stresses Marks. "By encouraging girls to accept their 'normal' higher weights, we are in fact promoting good health, not obesity."

Pal agrees. "While there has been some progress in empowering young women to feel more accepting of a variety of body shapes and sizes, I have not seen a dramatic increase in female adolescent obesity as a result of this," the therapist says.

Statistics say child obesity is on the rise. The Canadian Population Health Initiative study recently showed 29.9 per cent of children in Ontario are overweight, in line with the national average.

"With obesity so prevalent, the risk is that it becomes the norm," says Burlington doctor Eileen Alexander. "It's a slippery slope. There's a fine line between a healthy weight and an unhealthy weight and it's a concern.

"There are serious health issues that come with childhood obesity, including high cholesterol and diabetes, and these complications don't go away," says Alexander. They may lead to increased risk of heart attacks and cancers in adult years.

"Parents need to model healthy habits for their children," Marks says, "as well as provide healthy meals and opportunities for exercise.

"Daughters should be encouraged to express their individuality in any of these ways -- none of which depends on being ultra-thin."

But, she adds, while the new mindset is heartening, overall body size and shape dissatisfaction are still common among teens and women, as evidenced by eating disorders.

"Most girls and women who desire to lose weight are, in fact, normal weight for their age and height. Most normal weight women and girls want to be thinner and many worry about this a lot."