Teen Body Image Information

Everywhere you look, there is increasing pressure for young girls and women to be thin. Magazines and other forms of media do not convey a positive teen body image for young women. Here are 7 teen body image tips to help your daughter deal with these negative teen body images.

Teen Body Image Tip #1 - Help your daughter realize the value of academics, sports, and the arts instead of just focusing on beauty, fashion, and pop culture.

There is a tendency to underplay the value of academics, sports, and the arts in the lives of young women as portrayed in the media, especially in magazines and television. If your daughter develops an intense interest in academics, sports, and/or the arts, encourage it and help nourish it.

Teen Body Image Tip #2 - Discuss how with your daughter how magazine images are airbrushed and how TV uses lighting to hide faults; they are not to be used as standards of beauty.

Many young girls and women simply don't realize that most of the images that they see daily in magazines, on television, and the movies are created using special techniques, heavy makeup, special lighting, and airbrushing. They need to know that everyone has physical imperfections.

Teen Body Image Tip #3 - Encourage your daughter to discuss her views on beauty, weight, and body image with you. You will better be able to understand her views.

The earlier you begin to talk to your daughter with regards to beauty, weight, and teen body image, the better. Younger and younger girls are exhibiting unhealthy eating habits, and increasingly, full-blown eating disorders. A large part of it stems for poor teen body image.

Teen Body Image Tip #4 - Discuss her experiences at school with regards to weight, self-esteem, and eating disorders.

In all likelihood, your daughter will begin to become concerned regarding her body image when she starts school. At this time, she will begin to start comparing herself to others her own age. Often, in early elementary school, kids who appear different in any way, shape, or form are cruelly teased. It only gets worse in junior high. One of the biggest things you can do for your daughter is to talk to her about her experiences at school concerning weight, self-esteem, and eating disorders. By the time that your daughter is in middle school, she will likely know someone who has an eating disorder.

Teen Body Image Tip #5 - Make sure that your daughter knows that you value her for things other than her looks.

It is vital that your daughter knows that you value her for more than her looks and popularity.

Teen Body Image Tip #6 - Help your daughter deal effectively with self-esteem issues.

If you daughter develops a poor teen body image, there is a good chance that she is experiencing self-esteem issues as well. If you help her deal with self-esteem issues effectively, she in all likelihood will feel better about her teen body image.

Teen Body Image Tip #7 - Encourage your daughter's involvement in a wide range of extracurricular activities.

One of the best ways to help your daughter boost her self-esteem is to get her involved with many different extra-curricular activities. They will help her cultivate interests that focus much less on physical appearance, the perceived perfection that is common in the media.

One of the best ways to help your daughter overcome a negative teen body image is to be a good role model yourself. By keeping these 7 teen body image tips in mind, you will be more apt to handle the situation well.