Children can have poor body image.  Parents can do many things to foster positive body image, confidence and self esteem in their children

There are many ways that parents can foster positive body image and strong self-esteem in their children.  If you are at all concerned about your child’s body image, self-esteem or eating behaviours, consult with you GP for information and referral.  Your body image is how you think and feel about your body, and what you imagine it looks like.  This may have nothing to do with your actual appearance.  Poor body image can have range of negative effects, including disordered eating, depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.  Relationships and career choices can be seriously affected by low-self-esteem.  Feeling embarrassed about physical appearance can cause some people to stop exercising, because they don’t want people to see their bodies.   A sedentary lifestyle leads to a host of health problems including increased risk of obesity and heart disease.  Be a good role model.  The most influential role model in your child’s life is you.  Parents can encourage their children to feel good about themselves by showing them how it’s done.  For example:

Children learn eating behaviours  from their parents, so make sure you include plenty of fresh fruits, vegtables, lean meats, low fat dairy products and cereals in the family’s diet.  Go easy on takeaway, fried foods and sugary snacks.

Don’t crash diet.  Don’t encourage your child to crash diet either. Studies show that many young people think that crash dieting is a harmless and effective way to lose weight.  Talk to your child about the dangers of crash dieting.

Accept your own body size and shape.  Don’t complain about ‘ugly’ body parts or, at least, don’t share your opinions with your child.

Accept other people’s body sizes and shapes.  Don’t put a lot of emphasis on physical appearances or your child will too.  Instead, try to talk to your child about all the different aspects that make up a person, such as personality, skills and outlook on life.

Exercise regularly.  Have at least one family activity per week that involves some kind of exercise, for example, walking, dancing, playing in the garden or going for a swim.

Be critical of media messages and images that promote thinness.  Encourage your child to question and challenge Western society’s narrow “beauty ideal”.  Get them into the exercise habit.  Studies show that a person who appreciates what their body can do, rather tha what it looks like, feels good about their body and tends to have higher self-esteem.

Suggestions Include:

• Make your family and active one
• Exercise yourself and encourage your child from an early age to exercise right along with you.  For example, take little ones for strolls in the pram.  Once they’re old enough encourage them to walk part of the way.
• Emphasise fitness, health and enjoyment as the motivations for exercise rather than weight loss or weight management
• Try to find a team sport they enjoy.  Team sports encourage camaraderie, teamwork, competition and mastery of physical skills.  A child who feels passionate about their sport is more likely to continue playing into adulthood.

Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight.  A known trigger of poor body image is being overweight.  Be cautious of sports that have a strong emphasis on thinness, for example, gymnastics and ballet.  Vulnerable children may fee pressured to lose weight.  Help them feel confident about themselves.  A strong sense of identity and self-worth are crucial to your child’s self –esteem.  Suggestions include Encourage problem solving, expression of opinions and individuality.  Teach your child various coping strategies to help them deal with life’s challenges.  Allow them to say “no”.  Encourage them to be assertive if they feel they have been mistreated.

Listen to their concerns about body shape and appearance.  Puberty, in particular, can be a worrying time.  Reassure your child that their physical changes are normal and that everyone develops at different times and rates.

Don’t tease them about their weight, body shape or looks.  Even seemingly friendly nicknames can be hurtfull if they focus on some aspect of the child’s appearance.  Place value on their achievements, such as talents skills and school results.  Make your child feel they have an important role in family, for example, give them age- appropriate household tasks.  Tell them what a valuable contribution they make to the running of the house.

Talk to you school.  Your child’s school can be a positive environment that fosters healthy body image and self-esteem.  Talk to the principal about any concerns you may have.  Issues may include:

Teasing about physical appearance is a known risk factor for poor body image.   Make sure your school has an effective anti-bullying policy.  If your child is being teased, contact the principal immediately.  Peer pressure can contribute to poor body image if the peer group is concerned with physical appearance and thinness.  Talk to the school about their body image programs.

If you think your child is hanging out with a “thin is in” crowd, try to arrange opportunities for them to mix with older children.  Once again, team sports could be a valuable avenue, since the emphasis is on how the person plays, not what they look like.

Self conscious students may shy away from school sports because of uniforms.  If necessary, consult with your school on possible changes to make the sports uniforms less revealing or figure-hugging.

Where to get help

Your doctor, your child’s school principal, your local community health centre, accredited practising dieticians or a psychologist.

Things to remember:

You are the most influential role model in your child’s life, so lead by example

Give your child opportunities to appreciate their body for what it can do, rather what it looks like.

If you are at all concerned about your child’s body image, self-esteem or eating behaviours, consult with your doctor for information and referral.