“Mom, ugh…I feel fat!!”: Understanding Body Image and Its Impact on Our Kids' Mental Health
In today's image-driven world, it's no surprise that children are developing concerns about their bodies at younger and younger ages. I’ve witnessed this in my practice and in my personal circles as well. It seems as though over the past ten years, I’m hearing more and more comments like these:
“My daughter asked me to tell her the number of calories in our dinner so she could ‘track’ it…”
“My son wants to lose weight because kids were calling him ‘chubby’ on the bus.”
“My child asked me why her belly is so big and all her friends’ bellies are flat…she was really distressed…”
“My kid has been crying at night, saying he hates the way he looks.”
Body image—the way we perceive, think, and feel about our own bodies—has become a growing mental health concern for children and adolescents. While struggles with body image may seem like something that doesn’t fully emerge until the tween or teenage years, research shows that children as young as 5 years old can express dissatisfaction with their bodies. This early onset of body image struggles has ripple effects on a child's self-esteem, mental health, and overall well-being.
Take a look at some additional, alarming statistics:
81% of 10 year-olds are afraid of being fat
46% of 9-11 year olds are “sometimes” or “very often” on a diet
31% of 8-14-year-olds felt that the images they see on social media make them feel insecure about their bodies.
poor body image is closely linked with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, which have all skyrocketed in recent years
When you combine an image-obsessed culture with high levels of weight stigma, it creates a climate where individuals hyperfocus on external appearances and demonize bodies that stray from cultural ideals (i.e., folks in larger bodies especially, but also any “body” that does not fit the narrow cultural definition of “fit” and/or “beautiful”). So, as parents and caregivers, we face a unique challenge: how do we help our kids develop a positive relationship with their bodies amidst a pretty toxic culture?
How We Can Make a Difference
This task might feel overwhelming and daunting, but I assure you- there is hope! As a mental health clinician specializing in body image and eating disorders, I’ve seen firsthand the power that parents have in shaping their children's body image. Our kids learn by watching and listening to us, so the language we use, the attitudes we display toward food and our own bodies, the actions we take, and how we respond to societal pressures all play a critical role. There is research to both support the notion that body image can be strategically improved and that parents can be powerful forces in this improvement.
This is why I created Body Confident Parenting – Your Blueprint to Raising Empowered Kids at Peace with Their Bodies and Food, a comprehensive 4-week online course designed to give you the tools and strategies to guide your children toward a positive, resilient body image. The course provides practical lessons on topics like understanding body image development, addressing media and cultural influences, modeling a positive relationship with food and health, and responding to peer pressure and bullying. You’ll gain insights into what to say and how to say it, all while ensuring your child grows up with the confidence to embrace their inherent worth and reject harmful body ideals.
We cannot control all of the messages our children receive from the outside world, but we can empower them with the tools to skillfully manage them. My course equips you with evidence-based strategies and expert guidance to help you and your family do just that. I sincerely hope you’ll join me!
Yes, I’d love more information about Body Confident Parenting!
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