Being the caregiver of a kid or teen has never been easy. With the constant presence of social media, digitally altered photos, and targeted marketing by the beauty and diet industries, supporting youth in developing a healthy body image can feel especially challenging.
THE IMPACT OF A NEGATIVE BODY IMAGE
Negative body image is a common issue teens face. It affects 40-50% of school age kids, with over 70% of adolescent girls reporting a desire to change their shape or weight. Often girls feel pressure to have a smaller body while boys feel pressure to have a more muscular body. Body image concerns are present across cultures and social identities.
A negative body image is associated with depression, low self-esteem, and unhealthy weight control behaviors. On the flip side, youth with a positive body image are less likely to diet, perform body surveillance (regularly checking one’s body), drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
So, how can we support our kids in having a healthier relationship with their bodies?
1. Use positive or neutral language
It’s important to be aware of the words we use to describe bodies, food, and exercise. These are examples of neutral or positive phrases:
- Beauty looks different for everyone.
- Eating is a way to fuel our bodies.
- Healthy movement is good for everyone.
2. Try to avoid labels
Every family has a different culture around food, but it can be helpful to stay away from general labels. When we call food good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, it can be misleading. It can also lead to feelings of guilt and extreme weight control behavior. For example, even though most people consider kale “healthy,” it is not healthy to eat only kale for every meal. If we consider cake “unhealthy” and refuse to eat it, it might lead to missing celebrations (like birthday parties) and to feelings of deprivation. This can lead to eating more cake than intended.
3. Be mindful of how you talk about yourself
How you talk about yourself sets an example for how youth talk about themselves. Speak about yourself in an accepting way. It can be helpful to focus comments on what the body can do, not on how it looks.
4. Encourage youth to think critically about media
Ask your child or teen what they think about images they see and encourage them to be mindful of who they follow. Do they think the images are real or altered? Does it make them feel good about themselves? Further, explain that society’s beauty ideal is always changing. If they pursue it, they’ll be chasing a moving target and may never feel like they’re good enough.
5. Be aware of warning signs
Watch for warning signs of developing body image concerns, such as:
- Change of emotions or behaviors: being more sad or anxious than normal or avoiding activities they used to enjoy (e.g., going to the pool).
- Disordered eating patterns: skipping meals, not eating in certain settings, or changes in exercise routines or food amounts or choices.
- Teasing and bullying: whether at home, school, or in the neighborhood, bullying can lead to poor body image. Stop any teasing that you notice and check in with your child or teen about other comments they may be hearing.
- Negative self-talk: If your child talks negatively about themselves, it can be a sign they may need support. What they say aloud can show how they are feeling on the inside.
When to Seek Help
Two red flags that would signal your child needs professional help are an increase in distress and/or a decrease in functioning. I recommend starting by sharing your concerns with your pediatrician and he or she can direct you to mental health support within your community. If your teen is already in therapy, bring your concerns up there so that it might be able to be integrated into the broader treatment plan.