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How Do I Look?: Information to Help Your Child Create a Positive Body Image
Images portrayed in the media and magazines are often blamed for pressuring girls to be thin. A recent study led by Children’s National psychologist Eleanor Mackey, PhD, found that peer groups may also play a role in how adolescent girls control their weight.
''Concerns teen girls have about their own weight, about how they appear to others and their perceptions that their peers want them to be thin are significantly related to weight-control behavior,'' says Dr. Mackey.
Dr. Mackey and co-author of the study, Annette M. La Greca, studied 236 teen girls with different cultural backgrounds who attended public high schools in southeast Florida.
The study’s results can help parents identify their child’s peer group and how to talk to their child about body image. Read more about Eleanor Mackey’s study.
 Listen to a report from HHS Healthbeat featuring Eleanor Mackey, PhD, about ways to help your child create a positive body image.
Your child is at risk for an eating disorder if he/she:
• Changes eating habits significantly with little or no explanation.
• Has a notable weight loss or weight gain with little or no explanation.
• Becomes secretive about food, for example, lying about how much he/she ate, whether he/she ate, or hiding food.
• Appears to be very unhappy about his/her body or appearance, or goes on a diet.
What parents should do:
• Be aware of your child’s friends.
• Ask your child if there are peer crowds in his/her school and with whom they most identify.
• Be supportive and empathetic about weight and body concerns and encourage a healthy self-image and good body esteem.
• Instead of focusing on weight or appearance, focus on health.
• Teach healthy behavior in order to prevent risky weight control behaviors.
General tips for healthy eating:
• Encourage children to eat healthy foods to be healthy and strong, without an emphasis on weight.
• Be a role model – eat well yourself and set the same standards for everyone in the family, regardless of weight.
• Have dinner together as a family on as many nights as possible.
• Keep the house stocked with healthy snack choices and limit unhealthy choices.
• Allow treats once in a while – there are no “bad” or “good” foods.
For more information or if you suspect risky behavior, contact Children’s Division of Psychology and The Donald Delaney Eating Disorder Clinic.
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