Mom’s Body Image

Posted by Lori Henry Nov 17, 2006

"It's shown that mom's who diet all the time and are chronic dieters will have daughters who may start dieting as early as age 9 or 10," said Sonia Angel, a dietician with Memorial Hospital, or even spawning an eating disorder.

Young teenagers and children look up to their parents for guidance and eating habits are a common behaviour to emulate, whether conscious or not.

"There are certain foods they may not like but they will like others," said Angel. "Prepare things differently because maybe they don't like something raw but they'll like something cooked, and vice versa."

Ways to help young children retain a positive body image:

- don’t diet

- don’t focus on food as good or bad

- speak positively about your own body in front of them (and with yourself, too!)

- don’t focus on weight and calories

- don’t value fad dieting above good ol’ common nutrition