You, Your Child, and the Issue of Body Image.

The media plays a big part in helping children form body image, but parents play an important role in teaching their children about the ideal body and having body satisfaction as well (Perryman, 2005). Brown & Ogden (2004) found that children express greater body dissatisfaction when their parents do, and they are more likely to develop unhealthy habits (such as eating disorders) if their parents are vocal about their own body dissatisfaction. Many other researchers have found that parents provide feedback to their children about their bodies and act as role models for determining body image. Parents can directly influence their children’s body images not just by what they do, but by what they say. Rogers and Chabrol (2009) found that verbal messages and active encouragement are more influential than modeling behavior alone.

Children are more likely to be sensitive toward direct comments, criticisms, or perceived attitudes about body weight and shape than when parents only model disordered or unhealthy attitudes (Brown & Ogden, 2004). For example, you can boost your child’s body image by modeling that you are comfortable in your own body, but it is even more effective to tell your child that she is beautiful just the way she is.
Refer to the community resources page for links to resources such as those at Women's Health, which target issues like specific approaches to nurture a healthy body image in your child, how to avoid perpetuating negative body image standards, and how and when to get help if you notice a problem.

What You Eat

Most people realize that what they eat affects their bodies and how healthy they are.  However, many people don't always realize that their children are watching what they eat - and imitating it even when they aren't at home.  If a parent consistently eats healthy foods, the child is more likely to choose healthy foods when given the option at school or in other settings (Brown & Ogden, 2004).

Furthermore, children are more likely to enjoy certain flavors in food if their parents like them, and they are much more likely to dislike a certain flavor if their parents do not like it (Wrotniak et al., 2005).  I have seen this in my own life; I do not like the taste of seafood, merely because my mom doesn't like it, so I never ate it as I grew up.

If a child and a parent are both trying to lose weight, the child is much more likely to be successful if the parent is as well (Wrotniak et al., 2005).  So if you have a child who wants to become healthier and lose a few pounds, the best way to help that child is to help yourself become healthier in the process!  Choose more fruits and vegetables at snacktime or at the dinner table, and encourage healthy eating.

A Call for Community Resources!

Hey Everyone!  Do YOU know of a resource in your community that would help others improve health or teach them more on how their health can influence the health of their child?  Make a comment and let us know so we can add it to our COMMUNITY RESOURCE Tab!

Time for Dinner!!!

Research shows that eating a family meal on a regular basis, at home, with the television off, has resulted in lower risky behaviors, better grades, better communication skills, more family satisfaction, better job outcomes and many other positive things (Larson et al. 2007; Eisenberg, 2004; Chan & Sobal, 2011; Hunt et al. 2011; Sen, 2010; Rothon et al. 2011).  Yet, despite all of these benefits to sitting a family down together to eat and discuss the happenings of each person’s life, the frequency of family meals is declining (Hunt et al., 2011).  Studies have also shown a direct link between the decline in family meals and the increasing childhood obesity epidemic.

How many family meals per week does YOUR family eat together?  If it is infrequent, you are not alone.  Hunt et al. recognize that the modern day family is getting busier, with many social pressures to put in extra hours at the office, have children in many extracurricular activities, have two working parents and so on.  With all of these demands on time, it seems almost impossible to fit in the hour or two it takes to prepare a homemade meal, sit down to eat, then clean up afterward.

This is when you should ask yourself what your priority is.  If you believe that the benefits of family mealtime outweigh the investment of sacred time when it comes to your children, then there are many things you can do to simplify or quickly gain cooking skills that will help make this priority a possibility.  Refer to our “Community Resources” tab to find links to cooking classes, recipe websites, YouTube videos, community child cooking programs and so forth.

The research shows the benefits associated with family mealtime.  I have shown you some possible ways you can make it happen even in your busy life.  Hopefully, you will now act upon this knowledge and increase the number of times you sit down with your family for a homemade meal.

(For more information on studies on family mealtimes, refer to our report on Parental Influence on Childhood Obesity Outcomes in the “Literature to Read” tab)