I was saddened to read how girls as young as five start thinking of fat as undesirable and skinny as good (in the Times newspaper as part of response to a question sent in by a mother who was anxious that her three year old was developing a poor body image.)

The author of the article wrote about a television series where researchers showed a series of pictures to little girls:

[The researchers] presented a group of little girls with pictures of girls of different shapes and sizes - they all evaluated the fat child the most negatively. The youngest in the group, aged 5, stated that this child "would have no friends because she was fat". This is shocking because it shows how even the very young are not immune to developing perverse values about weight and success/popularity in life.

What can you do to prevent your diet and healthy eating attempts from skewing your kids' perceptions? How can you help them grow up in our "shock skinny celebrities" culture without them thinking that being a size 0 (or, for boys, having a perfect six-pack) is ultimate success?

How to Make Sure Your Kids have a Healthy Weight AND a Healthy Body Image

If you're overweight, don't use negative words to talk about yourself and your eating habits. Don't say that you're "too fat" or criticize yourself for "having no willpower".

Be very careful if you're on a diet that you present it as "eating well" and make it clear it's about the health benefits, not looks. If possible, don't even mention that you're dieting, but if your child comments on your weight loss, say something like, "I'm getting a bit slimmer so we can run around and have lots of fun together without me getting out of breath."

If your child is overweight, don't talk about putting them on a diet. Focus on adding things in rather than cutting them out: for example, make it a goal for all family members to eat their five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

When necessary (perhaps after teasing at school - either directed at your child, or by them towards another child), explain that everyone is different and that's what makes the world interesting. Talk about different hair color, skin color, weight, heights, abilities and likes and dislikes.

Don't buy toys or games that reinforce the cultural messages that a "perfect" body equals success in life. Buy realistic-looking dolls, not Barbies. Choose computer games carefully: some (particularly ones aimed at girls) promote messages you don't want. A game called Miss Bimbo, which encourages girls to buy plastic surgery for their character, has been roundly condemned in the media, especially by parents. (See Miss Bimbo and the Decline of Body Image here on Diet-Blog.)

What are you doing to encourage your kids (or nieces, nephews, friends' children...) to have a positive attitude towards body image?