Girls are more likely to have a negative body image than boys. In the US, girls and women hear and see messages about how they look from childhood. Young girls and teens are more likely to be praised for how they look than for their thoughts or actions. I don’t recall either one of my parents ever saying I was pretty or beautiful, they weren’t really verbally affirmative people. They focused on how I was performing in school. I didn’t think I was pretty or ugly, I was just me. Your regular awkward, insecure teenager. Which means I still struggled with my body image. I was still surrounded by peer pressure and media images. But I was lucky to not have that pressure reinforced at home. No one to my knowledge was ever on a diet or trying to lose weight. It’s important to remind ourselves and young kids that the lifestyle images we see are filtered and edited. Ironically the best way to have a healthy body image is to not focus on image at all. Compliment children and adults on their efforts, talents, accomplishments, and personal values. 

 

Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to universe@thelinlife.com

 

Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!