Body image often dictates how we dress and react to situations throughout life. Body image issues affect women more than men but did you know that children can be affected by body image problems as well?

Let’s take a look at the following “eye-opening” statistics:

• 42% of elementary school children between grades 1-3 want to be thinner

• 80% of children ten years old are afraid of being fat

• 7 million girls and women have an eating disorder compared with 1 million boys and men. 10% report onset at age 10 or younger and 33% from age 11 to 15

• Girls self esteem is highest at age 9

• 75% of girls 8-9 liked their looks. This number dropped to 56% by age 12-13 (7th grade)

• Age 9 is when ½ girls said they were on a diet

• By age 15 the ratio of clinical depression in girls vs. boys is 2 to 1

• 20% of college age women are bulimic

• Girls strive to be thinner and boys strive to be stronger and more muscular

Why are these body image concerns so prevalent in children? Peer pressure causes children to want to fit in by looking like everyone else. Today’s society has set impossible standards. Mass media including TV, movies, the computer and the constant barrage of artificially retouched photos of physical attractiveness and ideal bodies are affecting children everyday. Magazine covers feature celebrities with perfect features and bodies. Plastic surgery has been embraced as a way to a better face and body.

A healthy body image starts with you as a parent. Ask yourself “what messages am I sending my child?” Research tells us that children of parents who are dissatisfied with their own bodies or make comments about how others look are more likely to develop concerns around body image.

Here are some other ways you can help your child to feel good about themselves:

• Celebrate your own body for what it is. This positive approach will help your child to accept their body. Be careful of teasing a partner about their weight in front of a child.

• Try to not obsess about your appearance or anyone else’s.

• Exercise for fun and fitness rather than weight loss with your child.

• Reassure your child that puberty brings many changes in the body including more body fat and this happens at different ages. Point out that body shape is often dictated by genetics.

• Teach kids that we come in all shapes and sizes.

• Never comment on your child’s weight. Even a benign comment can have an effect on their self-esteem.

• Talk about images in the media. This will help build your child’s critical thinking skills so they will be able to ask questions about what they see and hear in the media. This will also teach your child to have realistic goals and expectations about their body.

• Help your child pick out clothes that they look good in.

• Help your child with peer pressure, conflict and bullying. Find out if there are problems at school and how the school deals with these issues.

• Help to make change happen. Push for healthy eating options at school and physical activity programs. Parents, schools and communities need to tackle these issue together.

• Focus on the positive aspects of your child’s lives so that their self-esteem is based on their abilities and positive qualities rather than their appearance.

• Let kids know you love them like they are.

• Stock your fridge and cupboards with healthy choices. Don’t restrict their eating instead serve them healthy food and let them determine how much they want to eat. Try Summerfresh Snack’n go prepacks. They are available in two flavours, Vegetable Dip and Roasted Garlic Hummus. Each pack includes a convenient mini container of delicious dip and pack of flatbreads. Look for them in the prepared refrigerated food counter at your local grocer.