It’s no secret that our society is obsessed with body image. Between social media, pop culture, advertising, and infinite access to the internet, we receive a particular kind of message about how our bodies should look.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in body image related issues, especially among teenagers.
It is also important to note that negative body image can affect anyone, regardless of gender, socio-economic status, age, or culture.
So, how do you as a parent help guide your teen towards a healthy body image?
Let’s start with understanding why it’s important.
Body image is often directly linked with our sense of value and worth. Due to various factors that influence us through time, once we reach adolescence we already have an engrained idea of what we think we should value about ourselves.
Developmentally, teens are learning to view themselves through the lens of how they think other people see them. Then they attach these thoughts to their identity. This is a unique time in life when they are developing their sense of self and attempting to find a place to belong. It can be a gift or a curse to believe that you are either well-liked or being judged for how you look.
Recent research found that 50% of 13 year old females were unhappy with their body and that number grew to 80% in 17 year old females. For males, 25% were concerned about appearing muscular and 17% believed they did not appear masculine enough.
Teens with a negative body image are more likely to experience low self-esteem, mood disorders, social anxiety, and eating disorders.
The good news? You still have influence and can help your teen create a better body image for a healthier life.
What Does Negative Body Image Look Like?
- Making negative comments about their body or comparing their body to others
- Decreased interest in social interactions and in-person activities
- Avoiding or scrutinizing themselves in a mirror
- Refusing to be photographed or look at pictures of themselves
- Increased irritability or mood changes
- Covering up certain parts of their body
- Changing eating patterns such as limiting food groups or excessive exercise, which could lead to disordered eating and should be consulted with a physician*
How to Foster Body Positivity
1. Model what you want to see. Your teen notices your eating habits, lifestyle choices, & your attitude about your body and the bodies of others. This may require some self-reflection and work on your part to develop a better relationship with your own self-image.
2. Focus on their body as an instrument, not as an object. Refrain from making comments about your teen’s weight or appearance. Instead, focus on what their body is capable of and celebrate all it’s able to do for them-running, laughing, dancing, dreaming, etc.
3. Have frequent discussions about social media. Educate yourself and them on how marketing can manipulate our feelings to convince us to buy a product. Discuss realistic expectations and limitations of trying to reach an ideal, and beauty tricks that make someone appear “perfect.”
4. Encourage more in-person interactions. Decreasing their online presence and replacing it with in-person interactions also helps improve their social and mental health.
5. Create a list of the qualities you appreciate in your teen. Share it with them, as well as use it as a way to increase verbal affirmation unrelated to physical appearance.
6. Decrease media usage in the home. Create spaces in your home that are “screen free” and keep phones outside of bedrooms while sleeping. Many teens find that less social media use improves their self-esteem and emotional health.
Resources for Teens & Parents:
- The National Eating Disorders Association: NEDA offers a screening tool, helpline, and a database of treatment centers around the country.
- The Body Positive: This is a nonprofit devoted to helping individuals work toward body positivity. The website includes a number of online resources.
- Health at Every Size: This site has a list of resources, including blogs, podcasts, and online groups.
- More Than a Body: This site is dedicated to building body image resilience
More Support
If your teen continues to struggle with their body image, professional support may be needed. Collaborate with their pediatrician and seek out a mental health professional. Parents don’t always have the tools or the answers to navigate every situation and that’s okay. That’s what we’re here for.
At Central Texas Child and Family Counseling, we are here to help and support your teen. Help is just a quick phone call away – call, email, or stop by our offices in Georgetown or Liberty Hill today.
-Megan Ibanez, LMFT
