Body image is often thought to be linked only to physical parts of a child, e.g. weight, strength or height, and not to do with the thoughts and feelings they have about themselves. It is also often thought that if a child slim that body image will not be an issue. This view implies that being slim is the ideal.
Perceptions of body image start in the early years and are shaped by the environment, peers and family, the media, society, and biological predisposition.
Rather than trying to change the child’s shape or size, focus on helping them develop methods to live well, i.e. good social skills, good character, emotional intelligence, etc.
A healthy body image is accepting how you look and being generally happy with your appearance. It can be shaped by society, comments, feedback from others, and the media.
Encouraging children to be happy in their bodies, in turn encourages them to be happy and healthy, and more physically active.
The more parents make an issue out of a child’s weight and try to change it, the more body dissatisfaction a child may have. It is better for parents to focus on health and personal strengths, and being fit and strong.
Helping your child have a good body image | Parent Club (more information on healthy body image and body confidence)
Promoting a Healthy Body Image
- “Diet talk” or judgments on people’s size or shape may not be helpful.
- Health gain through better food, physical and social activity is achievable with or without a
change in body size or shape. - Encourage children to feel confident, to be able to raise concerns, and to recognize and care
about other people’s feelings. - Help children recognise when people are being unkind about their or other people’s size and
shape, and how to respond appropriately.
Living in the wider world - Encourage an active lifestyle, with an emphasis on enjoyment.
- If a child has their weight measured by a health professional, and it is well above or well below
the ideal healthy weight range, a conversation about what might be influencing weight can
take place. - A pursuit of weight loss (dieting) is not recommended as it is most likely to lead to weight gain
in the longer term. - Promote critical consumer skills by both reducing exposure to the media, and increasing the
awareness of the messages that media conveys about unrealistic and unachievable body size
ideals. - Encourage children to have a healthy body weight by supporting them to eat to appetite, avoid
labeling food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, comfort children with attention, listening and hugs instead of
food, and encourage regular meals.
Leading by example
- Encourage a well-balanced diet based on a wide variety of foods.
- Model the enjoyment of healthy food.
- Eat together whenever possible.
- Children and adults often need to relearn how to tune into their body’s natural sense of hunger and fullness.
- Provide children with opportunities to make their own choices about food, and an understanding of what might influence these choices.
- Avoid using food as a reward (or punishment)
