Did you ever have a “fat talk” with your parents when you were a kid? If you and I belong to the same generation, I’m guessing it’s a no. However, at some point, maybe you were made to feel that there was something wrong with your body. You’re not alone. Body image is something that was not part of the parenting manual (if there ever was one) during our time.
Body Image or Illusion?
I was having lunch at a friend’s place. They have an 11-year-old boy. The food was fabulous, so, I was not paying much attention to the conversations around me. However, I could see his son from the corner of my eye, pecking at a piece of chicken.
He had just returned from his soccer practice and I am sure he was famished. The chicken was also alright. So I was wondering why was he not eating properly.
I went near him and started a conversation. A minute into it, he told me that he was hungry, but was worried that his BMI might increase. It felt like a slap by an ice-cold sock when I was not expecting it! Why would an 11-year-old athlete worry about something like BMI? He was active, eating right, and yet, he was worried about eating good, nutritious food.
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There are countless young children like him, worrying about looking right. I don’t know why. Maybe things were simpler when I was younger. I would eat to my heart’s content and then play outside the whole evening. I was not worried about getting fat or looking fat, or even looking out of shape. Why then, are these children, not even teenagers, concerned with the way they look?
Is it because they are more aware? Is it because they see the parents trying out different diets to get back in shape? Or is it because of the early sexualisation of the youth in movies today? Maybe it is a combination of all three.
Don’t get me wrong. There is no glory in putting on extra pounds, nor is there anything wrong in being fit. The problem arises when growing children ignore a balanced diet and start exercising the way adults should. The incessant obsession with selfies and Instagram does not help either.
Body image used to be a cause of concern for parents of 18-year-olds. Now it hounds the parents whose children have not even reached puberty.
How Can Body Image Hurt Your Child?
Negative body image can really hurt your child in several ways:
Feeling Bad About Themselves – When kids don’t feel good about their bodies, it can make them feel less confident and valuable. They might think they’re not good enough compared to what they see in movies or on social media.
Mental Health Struggles – This negative feeling about their bodies can lead to things like feeling anxious or sad a lot of the time. It might even make them more likely to develop serious problems like eating disorders or depression.
Trouble Making Friends – Kids who don’t feel good about their bodies might find it hard to make friends or feel comfortable around others. They might feel too shy or worried about what others think of them.
Turning to Unhealthy Habits – Some kids might start doing things that are not good for them, like eating too little or too much, or exercising too much. These habits can hurt their bodies and make them feel even worse about themselves.
Struggling in School and Career – When kids are too focused on how they look, they might not do as well in school or have big dreams for their future. It’s important for them to focus on learning and growing, not just how they look.
Getting Sick More Often – Not feeling good about their bodies can also make kids more likely to get sick. Stress from worrying about how they look can mess with their bodies and make them feel tired and unwell.
Slowing Down Their Growth – Sometimes, worrying too much about how they look can even slow down kids’ growth and development. This means they might not grow and mature as they should.
Parents, teachers, and others who care about kids must help them feel good about their bodies. By promoting positive messages about body image and supporting them in feeling confident and valued, we can help kids grow up happier and healthier.
How to Help Your Child Have a Positive Body Image
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Involve an expert
Young adults are more likely to listen to an expert, like a doctor, or even an elder cousin who is a dietician, than you. So use this to your advantage. You have to be careful not to be too pushy, though. In this age group, you have to handle situations like you would handle a raw egg or unexploded dynamite – with tender care.
A good point to bring to the discussion would be the impact of BMI on fitness. Let them understand that BMI is not a measure of fitness. It is important for a growing body to concentrate instead of eating a balanced diet and exercising a healthy amount.
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Discourage any kind of diet regimes for weight loss
Shun the GMs, the Paleos, and other diet regimes yourself. You are setting an example through your actions that would have a long-lasting impact. So be wise about the path you choose to get fit yourself.
I cannot stress enough about a balanced diet. Your body needs carbohydrates, so don’t omit them. Pack a healthy lunch for your child and teach him to spot the nutrients instead of encouraging him to count calories.
That said, some foods are not meant to be consumed daily. Colas and fried food are best reserved for a blue moon day. Do not withhold anything, but teach your child a balanced diet.
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Monitor their sources of information
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The Internet has a lot of information that may be untrue. Most of the sites are not monitored by the government and thus celebrities get away with their support of wild theories and fascinations.
Teach your child this simple mantra -“Take advice from a person about his profession, not beyond it”. So take notes from an actor in the theatre, but when he starts teaching about food or weight loss, teach your child to ignore it.
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Watch your language
Be mindful of how you talk about your own body and other people’s bodies in front of your child, as this can significantly impact their body image.
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Focus on health, not weight
Encourage your child to adopt healthy habits, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, rather than focusing on their weight or appearance.
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Celebrate diversity
Help your child appreciate and celebrate diversity in all its forms, including body size, shape, and colour.
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Avoid negative comments and encourage positive self-talk
Avoid making negative comments about your child’s body or appearance, as this can be damaging to their self-esteem and body image. Instead, encourage your child to use positive self-talk and focus on their strengths and abilities rather than their appearance.
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Promote body acceptance
Teach your child to accept their body as it is and avoid comparing themselves to others.
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Emphasize inner qualities
Encourage your child to value inner qualities, such as kindness, empathy, and intelligence, over external appearance.
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Be a positive role model
Model positive body image behaviours by taking care of your body healthily and emphasizing your inner qualities and strengths.
Body image is a complex issue affecting many people, and addressing it in early childhood is important. While children may not initially be concerned about their body image, they are likely to encounter messages and images that can be harmful to their self-esteem and body image.
As parents, we are responsible for teaching our children about the importance of valuing their physical and mental health over their appearance and promoting a positive body image. By doing so, we can help our children develop a healthy relationship with their bodies and avoid the negative consequences of a negative body image later in life.
Image Source: iStock
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