Does Your Teenage Girl Have a Poor Body Image?
Today's teenagers are assaulted with images of perfect bodies and faces-on television, in the movies, in magazines. For those who are deemed not so perfect, the media has developed an abundance of reality shows designed to surgically correct physical flaws. Does your teenage girl know the difference between reality TV and reality?
Society's hard sell on human perfection can be difficult to avoid, especially for teenage girls. As a result, poor body image can result and sometimes starting from childhood. There are things you can do as a parent to help protect your teenager and her body image.
Creating a Healthy Body Image
Want to help your child have a healthy body image? Here's how:
Don't tease about appearance or weight. A study in a recent issue of The Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine showed how teasing about weight can have a negative emotional impact, creating poor body image, low self-esteem and symptoms of depression.
All teenagers deal with puberty and changes in their bodies. As a result, issues about weight are generally important to them and affects how they evaluate themselves. Even a light-hearted comment can really have a negative impact on how a teenager feels about her body, so be careful what you say.
Remember, fitness is healthier than thinness so encourage your child. Discuss her concerns about the image she sees of her body. Help her develop a positive body image by encouraging her to become healthier. A balanced diet and plenty of exercise is key to a healthy body so teach her this fact, and when your daughter feels good physically, she'll feel good about her appearance too. Set an example by staying active yourself and get your child involved in your healthy activities. Eat healthier family meals every day and teach your child the value of healthy cooking and using natural ingredients. Point out your child's assets and help her to focus on personal assets that go beyond body parts. Focus on her accomplishments in school and in activities. Point out the personality traits that make her special-her sensitivity, her positive attitude, her generosity. Teach her to value people's inner qualities and behavior too.
Society puts a lot of pressure on today's young people to be thin. Sometimes, eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia can result. Eating disorders, which are more common in women, usually start in the teen years, but can begin as early as age 8. Some warning signs of anorexia and bulimia may include:
unnatural concern about body weight
obsession with food, particularly calories and fat
use of diet pills and laxatives
vomiting after meals
lying about food intake
over exercising
If your daughter shows any of these signs or if you believe she may be suffering from an eating disorder make sure to see your healthcare professional. Eating disorders and depression are considered to be very serious medical conditions, but they can be successfully treated with the correct help.
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