Body Image At Age Ten
Dear Dr. Medoff,
I have a 10-year-daughter. I noticed that she has been making comments here and there about how she doesn’t like her body, or that she is getting fat. It’s not a serious problem, but I feel that she is experiencing issues with her body at a much younger age than I did, so I’m worried that it’s only going to get worse in the next few years. What can I do prevent this? From Lynne C.
Dear Lynne,
Unfortunately, you are noticing a trend that is common for many girls in our country. We used to not have to worry as much about body image problems and accompanying disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, until girls were a few years older than your daughter. However, we are seeing worries about body image and dieting behavior in younger and younger girls as time goes on. A focus on dieting in young girls can be dangerous, as restricting calories can not only lead to impaired physical development during a time when their bodies are growing at a rapid pace, but hunger can impede concentration at school, and contribute to feelings of depression, which may prevent girls from achieving their full potential.
We are all bombarded with advertising images everywhere we turn, which influence not only young girls, but also their mothers, to be dissatisfied with their bodies. We are a youth-and-beauty-oriented society, which makes it very difficult for parents to raise their children to only judge themselves and others by what is inside a person, not by outward appearance. While it would be unrealistic for me to say that you can shelter your child from these influences, there are some steps that you can take to lesson their impact.
· Discuss the difference between healthy eating and dieting. Talk with your daughter about how severe calorie restriction can actually be counterproductive, and may, in the end, cause overeating and weight gain. In the same vein, talk about the difference between moderate levels of exercise, which are necessary for good health and development, and overdoing exercise to the point of stressing your body in harmful manner.
· Promote a healthy lifestyle for your daughter, highlighting the concept of health, not diet. Turn off the television and take a walk together to enjoy the fresh air. Go to a farmers’ market to find local fruits and vegetables, and ask the vendors about the benefits of organic farming. Look over recipe books to find healthy, balanced meals to create for the family. Fill your cupboards with fresh, healthy snacks, instead of low calorie processed foods.
· Monitor your own behavior very carefully. Do not complain about your own weight and shape in front of your daughter, and do not comment negatively about the appearance of others in her presence. Let her see you running around and enjoying yourself in shorts or a bathing suit without worrying about your thighs jiggling.
· Find information about cultures that appreciate a variety of body types. Go to an art museum and discuss paintings of women from the different eras in history. Ask your librarian to help you find books that celebrate women of all sizes. Find movies or television shows that include female heroines with a range of body types and physical appearances.
· Consider getting your daughter involved in a sport. Athletics are often found to be a protective factor for teenage girls in many areas of psychological and social functioning. Sports emphasize being strong, not being skinny. Understand the coach’s philosophy before your daughter gets involved, and try to avoid sports that focus on maintaining a low weight.
· If your daughter does not want to join a team, find another activity for her to be involved in that helps to raise her self-esteem, such as art or music lessons. This is time spent away from magazines and television, as well as time spent focusing on her talents.
· Make sure your daughter sees a variety of real bodies. Let her see you wearing a bathing suit. Take her to the gym or to a women’s spa. Watch women’s sports and note that the body types you see are not the same ones you typically see in magazines and on television.
· Teach your daughter to be media-savvy. Help her understand that all advertising is created for a specific purpose, and it often aims to make us feel bad about ourselves so we will purchase the product being sold. Discuss how to think critically about the message each ad is sending. Talk about the technology that is used to manipulate what the actress or model looks like, such as make-up, lighting, air-brushing, and editing.
Lisa Medoff, Ph.D holds a B.A. in psychology, a master's degree in school counseling, and a Ph.D. in child and adolescent development. Although she’s worked with all types of children, for the past eight years, she has worked with students with special needs, such as ADHD, learning disabilities, depression and anxiety. She has taught courses in psychology and child/adolescent development at Stanford University, Santa Clara University, San Jose State University, and DeAnza College. She currently works as a resilience consultant for the non-profit Cleo Eulau Center, helping teachers at a low-performing elementary school understand issues of connectedness, special needs, and cultural sensitivity in order to build resilience in their students.
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Posted by dehni on Dec 25, 2010 3:35 am