How to Encourage a Healthy Body Image in Children and Teens
Children learn how to view themselves, food, exercise, and their bodies by watching the adults around them. Instead of focusing on weight, clothing size, or appearance, focus on healthy habits. Talk about eating nutritious foods to fuel the body, exercising because it feels good, and getting enough sleep. When health becomes the goal rather than appearance, children are more likely to develop a healthy body image and a positive relationship with food.
Social Media and a Healthy Body Image
Now, more than ever, we live in a body image-obsessed world. Just look at Instagram, TikTok, and other visually-based applications that have teenagers trying to outdo each other in the looks category. No doubt it’s not good for our children, especially daughters, to be constantly exposed to messages that make them feel inadequate or as though they don’t measure up. Studies have also shown that by age six, girls especially start to express concerns about their weight or shape, with 50 percent of girls ages 6-12 afraid of becoming too fat. We need to help them build a healthy and positive body image.
Social media often shows filtered and edited images that do not reflect reality. Help children understand that many online images are altered and do not represent how people actually look. As parents and grandparents, it’s up to us to try to counteract this messaging by serving as positive role models, both in our real lives and in the lives we portray on social media.
Positive Body Image – Lead by Example
Here are just three of the ways to lead by example.
1. Talk positively about your body and watch self-criticism. Think for a moment about the way you talk about yourself and others. It’s pretty simple: When you verbally criticize yourself, your body, or your appearance, you’re sending a message to those around you that it’s OK to speak poorly of yourself. Do you want your daughter to pick up this bad habit? If not, it’s time to keep an eye on how you talk about yourself in front of others. Instead, model self-respect and appreciation for what your body can do, rather than focusing on appearance.
2. Give praise for qualities other than physical appearance. We all want to look attractive, but when we give compliments solely based on looks, we are discounting someone’s intelligence, courage, creativity, or strength. In reality, we should recognize these traits more than beauty.
3. Establish other positive role models. The media tends to put beautiful people on a pedestal. Think outside of the box to look for empowering role models who are adding to society. There are plenty of women out there who exhibit qualities such as intellect, courage, and contributions to society. That’s what makes someone beautiful after all. Beauty fades, but virtues last.
4. Focus on creating healthy lifestyle habits. Encourage healthy eating, regular movement, quality sleep, and positive relationships. These habits support both physical and emotional well-being and help children develop a healthy body image.
Building a healthy body image starts at home. By focusing on character, healthy habits, confidence, and self-care rather than appearance, parents can help children develop self-esteem that lasts a lifetime.