Positive Body Image for Teens | Emily Lauren Dick | Episode 164

There’s something that’s been an issue for women for years—body image. Very few women express being happy with their bodies. Some are okay with it or feel they have come to terms with it, but they aren’t happy with it. And it isn’t just a weight issue; skin tone, scarring, disabilities and many other things make women feel “less than” and unworthy. And these feelings leak into all areas of our lives. Emily Lauren Dick joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to understand why girls are so hard on themselves, the impact it has on their lives, and what parents can do to turn the tide. 

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A Favorite Quote from the Show: 

Girls don’t simply decide to hate their bodies. We teach them to do it.

High Points From Our Conversation About Positive Body Image for Teens:

Girls are taught that our bodies are who they are and they can’t be happy or successful unless they have a perfect body.

Our body image is the mental picture of who we are.

We want a positive body image for our teens, but girls don’t simply decide to hate their bodies. We teach them to.

Parents inadvertently teach girls these lesson through the way we talk about our own bodies. We teach them to judge themselves.

Their worth is tied to their weight and appearance. This is reinforced when they see us not participating in life due to being uncomfortable. So when we skip the beach because we feel fat in a bathing suit we tell our girls they must have a great body to wear a bathing suit and have fun.

Weight talk has been replaced by talking about health. But our appearance is not an indication of our health.

Kids are circulating images that glorify thinness, even to the point of annorexia.

Talk to your daughter about a positive body image, starting with “thinspiration”. Point out the striking differences between what’s real and what’s not. You can search online for “body positive” and you’ll find good examples of altered images to start your conversation.

Bullying is one way these ideals are supported in our society.

Talk to them about having the skills to handle it if they are being bullied or they are being a bully. Discuss and ask questions to get to the root cause and find out why this is happening. Help them develop a positive body image

It’s important to build our children’s self-esteem. Positive body image in teens rely on strong self-esteem.

Girls tend to focus on relational aggression which ties in closely with cyberbullying.

Our girls are taught being sexy is powerful but that is not the case. They need to see they can be powerful by being who they are and standing up for their beliefs.

Parents need to talk to girls about who they are rather than how they look. Notice, comment, and compliment them on being kind, compassionate, smart, resourceful, creative, etc.

Resources:

Body Positive: A Guide to Loving Your Body by Emily Lauren Dick

We Are Power – Nonviolent Activism and Teenagers | Todd Hasak-Lowy | Episode 135

Weight Stigma And What It Means For Teens | Zoe Bisbing and Leslie Bloch | Episode 149

Understanding Food Addiction For You And Your Teenager | Jennifer Alembik | 113

Building Resilience With Timeless Advice For Teenagers | Lisa Shumate | Episode 89

Why Finding Your Authentic Self Is So Important For Teens | Cathy Lander-Goldberg | Episode 98

How To Build Self-Confidence In Your Teenager | Dr. Melanie McNally | Episode 129

Our Guest Emily Lauren Dick:

Emily Lauren Dick is a body image expert who is committed to making girls feel comfortable in their own skin. Her Body Positive book was officially released January 5, 2021! 

To learn more or connect with our guest visit www.happydaughter.com