{"id":76,"date":"2020-07-10T01:18:55","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T01:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bodpositive.org\/?p=76"},"modified":"2020-07-17T01:19:56","modified_gmt":"2020-07-17T01:19:56","slug":"this-is-how-to-help-you-and-your-teen-build-a-healthy-body-image","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bodpositive.org\/?p=76","title":{"rendered":"This Is How To Help You And Your Teen Build A Healthy Body Image"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With puberty comes a roller coaster of emotions that lasts throughout one\u2019s teen years. Radical changes in body shape and size can make them feel self-conscious and insecure. Unfortunately, the media doesn\u2019t help this situation due to the perpetual influx of photoshopped images of rail-thin models and actors \u2014 but social media<\/a> and the internet are big problems, too. Sadly, we\u2019re living in a time when teens are posting YouTube videos or downloading an app to ask their peers if they\u2019re pretty or ugly. The obvious side effect of this is depression, suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders<\/a> \u2014 between 2.5 and 4 percent of teens are thought to have anorexia nervosa or bulimia. As a parent, it\u2019s your responsibility to influence your kids in a positive manner. How you act and what you say can help change the way your teen thinks and feels, thus promoting a healthy body image. Here\u2019s what you can do to prevent or correct a problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice What You Preach <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set a good example<\/a> for your teen by living a lifestyle that the whole family can get on board and incorporating regular exercise and a healthy diet into the mix. Avoid labeling foods<\/a> as \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cbad,\u201d as this can encourage an eating disorder. Instead, focus on how foods make you feel. For example, explain how a poached egg, avocado spread, and a piece of whole grain toast for breakfast can give them the energy they need to get through the morning at school. Educate them on the types of foods<\/a> that can help fuel a teen\u2019s body for proper development, physical activity, concentration, and prevention. Words are just as important as actions, so avoid talking about others\u2019 appearances as well as your own. Saying that you look fat in your dress or that the slice of pizza you\u2019re eating is going straight to your thighs is only apt to make your teen question his\/her own appearance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Educate Your Teen On Media Versus Reality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it can be a challenge, make sure your teen understands<\/a> that their celebrity role models are likely photoshopped, and\/or spend five hours a day at the gym with a personal trainer and have a personal chef on hand to make nutritionist-approved meals. In other words, what they\u2019re looking at is not realistic. And with all the photo retouching apps available, not everyone on Instagram is legit either \u2014 and that potentially includes their close friends. Because of this, it can be a good idea to monitor and limit screen time, while encouraging them to stay busy through self-esteem boosting activities like joining a sports team at school or taking up a new hobby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look Out For Eating Disorders<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019re doing everything you can to boost your teen\u2019s body image, you should still know how to spot the signs<\/a> of an eating disorder so you can get them help before it\u2019s too late. Telltale cues include weight loss fluctuations, disappearing after meals (which could mean purging is taking place), avoiding food-related social plans, and pushing food around instead of eating it. Talk to your teen\u2019s physician about getting a referral for a treatment center when you start to notice something isn\u2019t right. Don\u2019t wait for the problem to get better on its own, as it\u2019s only apt to get worse; with a 10 percent mortality rate, anorexia is the most common eating disorder in teens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compliments are a great way to boost self-esteem, but make them about something other than your teen\u2019s appearance. Focus on internal qualities, skills, and health rather than looks. This can help them grasp the fact that there are more important things in life than trying to achieve an unattainable body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo Credit:<\/strong> Pixabay<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With puberty comes a roller coaster of emotions that lasts throughout one\u2019s teen years. Radical changes in body shape and size can make them feel self-conscious and insecure. Unfortunately, the media doesn\u2019t help this situation due to the perpetual influx of photoshopped images of rail-thin models and actors \u2014 but social media and the internet are … <\/p>\n

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