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May 13, 2008

Girls and Body Image: Loving the Skin She's In

by Hannah Boyd

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“In America, we’re obsessed with how we look,” says Dr. Joan Lester, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Saint Joseph College. “Studies have found that by the 5th grade, girls are already beginning to diet, have already looked at themselves in the mirror and thought, ‘I am fat.’”  This is bad news for families because poor body image can lead to poor self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders. We all want our children to be healthy and to feel good about themselves – but in a society torn between an emaciated feminine ideal and skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity, how can parents help their daughters accept their bodies?

“Parents need to focus on healthy behavior rather than physical appearance,” says Harriet Mosatche, Ph.D, Vice-President of Program Collaborations and Initiatives for the Girl Scouts. “Parents and daughters can walk or do other kinds of physical activities together, putting the emphasis on feeling better, having more energy, being fit, not being out of breath. Exercising together fosters communication.”

A 2006 study from the Girl Scout Research Institute titled The New Normal? What Girls Say About Healthy Living, found that physically active girls are more satisfied with their weight and appearance than other girls, regardless of their weight. They’re also more likely to lead a healthy lifestyle and less likely to be overweight. Sports are key to feeling good; unfortunately, the same study showed that 23% of girls do not participate in sports because they feel that their bodies “do not look good.”

Part of the problem is the unrealistic and unhealthy female body idealized in the media. “Discourage TV, movies and other media that promote unhealthy body image,” suggests Susan Bartell, Ph.D, author of Dr. Susan’s Girls’ Only Weight-Loss Guide. “When you see those skinny models on TV, talk to your daughter about why they’re unhealthy and how they’re not taking care of themselves.”

Of course, the strongest role model your daughter has is you. When a mother talks about dieting or criticizes her own body, she sends a dangerous message. Likewise, fathers should refrain from commenting on women’s bodies; a sincere compliment to his daughter can work wonders. Both parents can encourage self-acceptance by focusing on a healthy lifestyle for the whole family. Thin may be in now, but families are forever.


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20 Comments

Other readers' comments on this article:

  1. Beautiful article. Well done. I will share with many.

    Posted by Ronald Fortune on Jun 18, 2007 1:55 pm

  2. Great food for thought

    Posted by Robert Balmaseda on Jun 18, 2007 5:26 pm

  3. I think this is why I dislike Hollywood so much. The images and ideals that get released into television and theaters across America fosters such an unrealistic and unhealthy physical ideal that it is harming the physical, mental and emotional well being of both young and old. Young girls constantly see that society embraces very superficial qualities in women, sending the message that if you're beautiful and and fit a certain body type, you will be loved and taken care of. It's sad. I think it's great when young girls participate in sports, which places more importance on things less superficial and more physically, emotionally and socially healthy.

    Posted by Eugene Kujo on Aug 6, 2007 9:14 pm

  4. I THINK THIS MIGHT HELP OUT A LITTLE FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER

    Posted by ANITA PASTRAN on Sep 8, 2007 10:05 pm

  5. this is true, i went through the same thing when I began middle school. the only reason why is because all of the boys were so cute and i wanted them to ask me to out with them, over all almost every girl will fill the same about starting middle school because it is natural

    Posted by Taylor on Sep 11, 2007 7:31 pm

  6. i think this article is so true. im a girl who hears other girls talking about another girl. i think it is very disrespectful. dont think about how u look think about how others feel about u. do u comfort them? or do u just flat out hurt them. becoming a better person s really what matters.

    Posted by Lauren on Oct 8, 2007 5:49 pm

  7. good

    Posted by trish on Oct 10, 2007 11:06 pm

  8. Dis is really true!! Every day i try to do my hair perfectly so i can look good 4 da boys!!my mom gets mad cause i spend bout 20 min in da bathroom just ckeckin myself out!!

    Posted by vanessa on Oct 11, 2007 9:34 pm

  9. I understand this because I always said I'm fat when I wasn't I was an average size girl.

    Posted by chanel on Oct 18, 2007 7:20 pm

  10.  THis artical is well writen. But it  was to long to read to my cusins they just fell asleep.

    Posted by alliesha on Nov 9, 2007 12:22 pm

  11. I would like to think you for telling us about the changes

    Posted by jasmine on Nov 12, 2007 5:13 pm

  12. Us girls are all beautiful and we should except our selves the way we are!!

    Posted by shanara daniels on Nov 16, 2007 1:09 pm

  13. this is totally true about us young women

    Posted by neftaly on Nov 19, 2007 1:09 pm

  14. This is so totally true!  Boys should lay off!

    Posted by Kylie on Nov 21, 2007 3:34 pm

  15. hey this has helped my mom teach me how to act but i have not followed any of it because i like to express freely unlike some people

    Posted by mikayla on Dec 1, 2007 12:31 am

  16. hey i agree w/ the artical. tv tries to tell us how we are supposed to look and treis to tell us what beauty is but if you live in the reakl world like i do i dont wake up w/ perfict make up on orr hair perfictly sraight or spiked no i wake up like evey one else does then yeah i fix my self but every one does i belive we are as beautiful as we feel and if we make out self feel more beautiful then we will feel beautiful! we will be beautiful. i dont care if you are holly wood pretty if you have an uglg attutde then you are ugly. no matter what any one says. no one wants to be with some one with and ugly attitude well i no i dont at least!

    Posted by Crystal on Jan 11, 2008 1:51 pm

  17. think you for giving a email address.

    Posted by stacyc on Jan 23, 2008 6:59 pm

  18. My sister doesn't think she's pretty and she thinks she's fat. She is only in 7th grade.Hollywood, I think, has made her think that having extremely large curves makes you pretty. If people would understand that there is a God [Jesus] out there who made us the way we are and loves us that way. if you see people with a large nose their face is shaped so that the nose looks dignified. Girls out there, you are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by Ruthanna on Jan 28, 2008 4:07 pm

  19. hi my name is mary what that thing that  i just sign on and i want to this part

    Posted by mary guda on Apr 19, 2008 5:51 pm

  20. i think that article is good
     
     mary

    Posted by mary guda on Apr 19, 2008 5:52 pm



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