Body image is a term used to describe the appreciation of and satisfaction with one’s own physical appearance. Body image formation begins as a child, and by the time a young woman reaches adolescence, a period fraught with physical change, she will have already formed positive and negative perceptions of her own appearance. Development of a positive or negative body image is influenced by biological, psychological and environmental factors. A predisposition to a particular body type is inherited, with some people being prone to thinness, some to obesity, and most somewhere in between. If, however, culture indicates that only one body type is acceptable, and that image happens to be extreme thinness, an unattainable norm is created which becomes a source of conflict, particularly for young girls whose bodies are changing. Adolescent girls are at particular risk of developing negative body image disorders (1). However recent studies have shown that development of ones own body image vis a vis “ideal” body image begins to emerge earlier than adolescence, even by age six or seven years (2,3). An Australian study found that 50% of girls aged 8 to 12 who were at their appropriate body mass index expressed a desire to be thinner (4). By the time girls reach their teens, the statistics become even more distressing. A study of nearly 50,000 teenage girls revealed that a majority listed appearance as their biggest concern (5). Another recent study in the US indicated that 90% of teenage girls frequently think about their body shape and 86% of teenage girls are, or think they should be dieting (6). These figures are particularly alarming because negative body image has been linked to decreased self esteem (7), drug use, depression (8) and anxiety, and is a major contributor to the triggering of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Overcoming the media’s false messages and promoting positive body image should begin at an early age. Girls look to their mothers for guidance and a woman who is constantly dieting or who makes self deprecating remarks about her own body sends a negative message. Mothers can help their daughters feel good about their bodies by setting positive examples. Encourage exercise and good nutrition for the sake of health and fitness, not thinness. Encourage movement, through dance, leisure play, and participation in sports in order to facilitate good body awareness and confidence. Celebrate the idea that women come in all shapes and sizes and the positive goal to achieve is not that of a waif-like supermodel, but rather a body which is powerful, healthy and strong. While certainly puberty is a time of physical change, women undergo changes throughout the lifecycle whether it be subtle monthly changes, or the more profound changes that occur during pregnancy, the post partum period, and again during menopause. Women with a healthy and positive body image nurtured in childhood and adolescence, will likely be better equipped to deal with pregnancy weight gain and her postpartum body in a positive way. By approaching the changes of puberty together with your daughter openly and with a sense of humor, she becomes empowered to love, nurture, and care for her changing body throughout the lifecycle.

Reference 1) Koff E, Rierden J, Stubbs MI. Gender, body image and self-concept in early adolescence. Journal of Early Adolescence 1990; 10:56-68. 2) Thompson, SH Corwin SJ, Sargent RG. Ideal body size beliefs and weight concerns of fourth grade children International Journal of Eating Disorders 1997; 26:45-62. 3) Sands R, TrickerJ, Sherman C, Armatas C, Maschette W. Disordered eating patterns, body image and physical activity in pre-adolescent school children. International Journal of Eating Disorders 1997; 21:159-156. 4) Rolland K, Farnhill D, Griffiths RA. Body figure perceptions and eating attitudes among Australian schoolchildren aged 8 to 12 years. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 1997; 21:273-278. 5) Exeter University, U.K., 1998. 6) Fat Talk, Harvard University Press 2000. 7) Harter S. Causes and Consequences of low self esteem in children and adolescents. In: Baumeister RF, ed. Self-esteem: The Puzzle of Low Self- regard. New York, NY; Plenum Press; 1993. 8) Rierdan J, KoffE, Stubbs MI. A longitudinal analysis of body image as a predictor of the onset and persistence of adolescent girls’ depression. Journal of Early Adolescence 1989; 9:454-466.