Raising Kids with Healthy Body Image

As a mental health therapist and advocate for positive body image, I often encounter parents who are concerned about their children’s body image and self-esteem. In today's society, where media and peer influences are strong, fostering a healthy body image in children is more important than ever. It’s become normal and almost expected that individuals will struggle with some sort of body image dissatisfaction in their lives, but why settle for this? Body image dissatisfaction hasn’t always been a hallmark of the American population. Sure, our work is cut out for us to create a paradigm shift towards healthy body image, but it’s not an impossible feat. Understanding the impact of negative body image, the contributing factors, and effective strategies for prevention and treatment can help parents raise confident and resilient children. It is my hope that the next generation of young people will promote a healthy relationship with mind, body, and soul.

Understanding the Impact of Negative Body Image

Negative body image is a significant issue in the United States, affecting children and adolescents across various demographics. Research indicates that body dissatisfaction is prevalent among young people, with over 50% of girls and approximately 30% of boys reporting dissatisfaction with their bodies by adolescence (Smolak, 2011). This dissatisfaction can lead to serious consequences, including low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders.

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) reports that about 20 million women and 10 million men in America will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives (NEDA, 2020). These disorders often begin in adolescence, highlighting the critical need for early intervention and education on body image.

The Fiji Study

The Fiji study, often referred to as a landmark investigation into the impact of media on body image, provides significant insights into how exposure to Western media can influence body dissatisfaction and eating behaviors. Conducted by Anne E. Becker and her colleagues, this study examined the effects of television introduction in Fiji, a society that traditionally valued robust body types, on adolescent girls' body image and eating behaviors.

Before the introduction of television in 1995, disordered eating behaviors were relatively rare among Fijian adolescent girls. However, within three years of television exposure, there was a noticeable increase in concerns about weight and body shape. The study revealed that:

1. Increase in Eating Disorder Symptoms: By 1998, 74% of the girls reported feeling "too big or fat" and 15% reported vomiting to control weight, a significant increase from the pre-television era (Becker et al., 2002).

2. Influence of Western Media: The girls expressed a desire to emulate the slim bodies seen on television, which led to a shift in body ideals and increased body dissatisfaction.

3. Changes in Cultural Norms: The traditional Fijian preference for a fuller body shape was increasingly replaced by a preference for the thinner body types depicted in Western media.

The Fiji study highlights the powerful influence of media on body image and the rapid shift in body ideals and eating behaviors following exposure to Western television. Understandably, a similar influence has happened across industrialized countries; however the effects were less apparent and more normalized.

Factors Contributing to Negative Body Image

Several factors contribute to the development of negative body image in children:

• Media Influence: Exposure to unrealistic and idealized body standards through television, movies, social media, and advertisements can create unrealistic expectations and dissatisfaction with one's own body (Levine & Piran, 2001).

• Peer Pressure: Children and adolescents often face pressure from peers to conform to certain body standards, leading to body shaming and bullying (Puhl & Latner, 2007).

• Family Dynamics: Parental attitudes and behaviors towards their own bodies and their children's bodies significantly impact children's body image. Critical comments, dieting behaviors, and emphasis on appearance can contribute to body dissatisfaction (Rodgers & Chabrol, 2009).

• Cultural and Societal Norms: Cultural attitudes towards body size and shape can influence how children perceive their own bodies. Societies that value thinness or muscularity may exacerbate body dissatisfaction (Grogan, 2016).

Strategies for Promoting Healthy Body Image

Parents play a crucial role in fostering a positive body image in their children. Here are some evidence-based strategies:

• Encourage Body Acceptance: Teach children to appreciate and respect their bodies for what they can do, rather than how they look. Focus on health, strength, and abilities rather than appearance (Tylka & Wood-Barcalow, 2015).

• Model Positive Behavior: Parents should model positive body image and self-esteem. Avoid negative comments about your own or others' bodies and demonstrate healthy eating and exercise habits without emphasizing weight (Webb et al., 2015).

• Media Literacy Education: Help children critically evaluate media messages and recognize unrealistic body standards. Encourage them to question and challenge societal norms related to beauty and body image (McLean et al., 2016).

• Foster a Supportive Environment: Create an environment where children feel loved and accepted regardless of their body size or shape. Encourage open conversations about body image and self-esteem (Neumark-Sztainer et al., 2006).

• Promote Diverse Role Models: Expose children to a variety of role models with diverse body types, abilities, and appearances. This can help them see beauty and value in all forms (Chrisler et al., 2013).

Conclusion

Raising children with a healthy body image requires intentional effort and awareness. By understanding the impact of negative body image, recognizing contributing factors, and implementing effective strategies, parents can nurture confident and resilient children. It is vital to promote body positivity, model healthy behaviors, educate about media literacy, create supportive environments, and celebrate diversity in body types. Together, we can help the next generation develop a healthy and positive relationship with their bodies.

If negative body image is significantly impacting your well-being or your child’s well-being, consider seeking support from a mental health professional. At Cypress Wellness Collective, we’re trained in practical tools and methods to help you rid yourself of painful thoughts and embrace the body that you were gifted with. Call us today for more information.

References

Becker, A. E., Burwell, R. A., Gilman, S. E., Herzog, D. B., & Hamburg, P. (2002). Eating behaviours and attitudes following prolonged exposure to television among ethnic Fijian adolescent girls. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 180(6), 509-514. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.180.6.509

Chrisler, J. C., Fung, K. T., Lopez, A. M., & Gorman, J. A. (2013). Body image, eating disorders, and obesity in youth: Assessment, prevention, and treatment. American Psychological Association.

Grogan, S. (2016). Body image: Understanding body dissatisfaction in men, women, and children. Routledge.

Levine, M. P., & Piran, N. (2001). Body image development in adolescence. In Cash, T. F. & Pruzinsky, T. (Eds.), Body Image: A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Clinical Practice (pp. 74-82). Guilford Press.

McLean, S. A., Paxton, S. J., & Wertheim, E. H. (2016). Mediators of the relationship between media literacy and body dissatisfaction in early adolescent girls: Implications for prevention. Body Image, 19, 49-57.

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). (2020). Eating disorders statistics. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorders

Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Story, M., & Perry, C. (2006). Correlates of unhealthy weight-control behaviors among adolescents: Implications for prevention programs. Health Psychology, 22(1), 88-97.

Puhl, R. M., & Latner, J. D. (2007). Stigma, obesity, and the health of the nation’s children. Psychological Bulletin, 133(4), 557-580.

Rodgers, R. F., & Chabrol, H. (2009). Parental attitudes and behaviors toward body and eating: Associations with adolescent body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptomatology. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 167-175.

Smolak, L. (2011). Body image development in childhood. In Cash, T. F. & Smolak, L. (Eds.), Body Image: A Handbook of Science, Practice, and Prevention (2nd ed., pp. 67-75). Guilford Press.

Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015). The body appreciation scale-2: Item refinement and psychometric evaluation. Body Image, 12, 53-67.

Webb, J. B., Rogers, C. B., Etzel, L., & Padro, M. P. (2015). “Beauty and the Body”: College women’s media exposure and body image surveillance. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 39(4), 479-497.