Kid's Health

Adolescents are suffering increasingly from a negative body image, so it’s important to discuss this topic with them. A casual, non-confrontational discussion with your kids can take place anywhere. Whether it’s on the drive to school or at dinnertime, be sure to take a moment to talk about the importance of a healthy body image.

A negative body image starts earlier than you may think. Children begin to develop a sense of themselves beginning at age 5. An early, negative reflection can have harmful consequences that can be carried into young adulthood.

Adolescents who have a negative self-image are more prone to depression, bulimia, anorexia, obesity, violence and suicide. These disorders especially affect young girls.

Constant exposure to media images often puts pressure on girls and young women to achieve a certain size or shape. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, of the millions who suffer from eating disorders, 90% are women between ages 12 and 25. A negative body image also affects boys of all ages.

12 ways to promote a healthy body image:

>> Encourage your children to create their own sense of beauty.

>> Provide support by helping them value what makes them unique. Often, their first point of comparison starts at school. Your kids can feel pressure or form attitudes about what other children say about looks.

>> Listen to your children. If they’re talking negatively about themselves or their peers, remind them that everyone is unique in his or her own way.   

>> Discuss the definition of body image. Have your children close their eyes and describe to you what they see when they look in the
mirror. The image they describe is the body image they have of themselves. Listen to their response and remember not to pass judgment.

>> Discuss consequences of having a negative self-image and the benefits of a positive one.

>> Reveal the reality behind the images that the media portrays. Emphasize that what they see has been touched up over and over again.

>> Have your children tell you how they think the looks that they see on TV or in ads were achieved.

>> Praise other qualities about your children besides physical appearance.

>> Model a healthy body image by making positive comments about yourself. Frequent comments about physical imperfections can pass on a negative message to your kids.

>> Encourage your children to keep a positive comment journal. Have them write 1 positive thing about themselves each day.

>> Explain that everyone has a different idea of what beauty is. It is impossible to fit everyone’s definition of beauty, and so creating your own sense of beauty is important.

>> Remind your child each and every day how loved and special he or she is.  


We, in the pediatric community, are committed to helping your child develop in a healthy way. If you feel that your child is having difficulty with his or her body image, please take the time to discuss the matter with your pediatrician.


Dr. Michael Cater is a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). To find a CHOC physician, or to learn more about the hospital’s services and programs, visit choc.org.