Teens and Body Image: A Guide for Parents

Your teenager is bombarded with images, all of them conveying some kind of message

about how they should look. From pictures of friends with filters that clear up their skin

and widen their eyes, to celebrities wearing designer clothes in overly worked out bodies,

it’s no wonder teenagers feel awkward in their own skin earlier and earlier. In fact, by the

time they are only 13 years old, more than half of U.S. girls will feel unhappy with their

bodies. That number jumps to more than 70 percent once they reach 17.

As parents, we strive to ensure that making healthy choices isn’t a once-in-a-while option

for our kids, but a lifelong drive. But in order to be successful--and to help our kids be

successful--we have to start helping them build a positive body image now. Here, Nourish

to Flourish presents some helpful tips you can use to support your teen.

Bodies Can Do Amazing Things

Getting your teens out and active can be easy for some, and challenging for others. If you

started your kids young, they may already play a team sport, like soccer or softball, that

they enjoy. You can support them in this healthy activity by cheering them on, attending

their games, helping them practice, signing them up for summer camps and clinics and

empowering them to focus on the awesome things that their bodies can do, not what they

look like.

If your child hasn’t been very active, starting this habit now might prove a bit challenging.

Your task will be twofold: getting them to find an activity they enjoy and committing to

regular participation. Find something that aligns with their interests.

If they enjoy competition, even competing with themselves, they could find track and field

or cross country running enjoyable. If your kid is a bit of a thrill seeker, get them ski lessons

and take them up the nearest slope. If your teen is one who prefers video games, find an

activity that parallels their favorite game, like paintball, golf, LARPING (live action role

playing), or geocaching.

Introverts, on the other hand, might prefer quiet walks in your neighborhood. You can even

walk together for support. Being out in nature is good for mental health and you may find

that these daily walks give you time to reconnect with your teen. The important thing to

remember is that activity should be associated with happiness, not punishment. Try your

best to keep them motivated with positive reinforcement.

Food Can Come with Baggage

As human beings, we have evolved to have a relationship with food beyond simple

sustenance. Food can bring families together at the end of the day, provide opportunities

for celebration and even expose us to other cultures. On the other hand we also turn to

food for comfort, distraction, entertainment, or control.

Pay attention to the reasons your teen is eating. Teens may turn away food to help them

achieve the ideal body or turn to food to help them numb emotional pain. According to

Kaiser Permanente, eating disorders are on the rise with our nation’s teens. If your child

has sudden fluctuations in weight loss, begins avoiding social plans that involve food,

disappears after meals or hides food in their bedroom, he or she may be suffering from

anorexia, bulimia or binge eating.

It’s important to understand that many eating disorders are accompanied by mental health

issues like anxiety and depression. You may notice that your teen gets more anxious after

consuming caffeinated beverages, as they can amplify these feelings. Help your child

understand the amount of caffeine in what they are drinking and encourage them to pay

attention to how their body feels after drinking these beverages.

Supporting Your Teen

If you suspect that a negative body image has led to an eating disorder, you should consult

with your teen’s pediatrician. Eating disorders can lead to severe damage to the brain,

heart, bones, kidneys and liver-- and even result in death. Your involvement is critical to

helping your teen overcome an eating disorder and begin building a healthy relationship

with food.

Look into working with a therapist for individual or family counseling. Most health

insurance policies cover these services, so check for preferred providers in your network. If

you don’t have health insurance, look into your state’s subsidized programs to enroll at

discounted rates.

You can also read about eating disorders together to start healthy discussions. Nourish to

Flourish offers a variety of helpful resources that may get the conversation started.

Support Your Child on their Wellness Journey

If only our teens could see themselves through their parents’ eyes, they’d see just how

remarkable they truly are. It takes a long time – for some even a lifetime – to truly

appreciate our own unique beauty. Unfortunately, in today’s media saturated world, teens

are given a very unrealistic view of body image.

You can help your teen not by pointing out their flaws, but by making healthy choices with

them. Instead of pointing out their unhealthy eating habits, simply put only healthy options

in the fridge. Rather than criticize the amount of time they play video games, get them to go

out on a few runs with you. You can make healthy choices easier by making lifestyle

changes together.