Helping Your Teen Develop a Healthy Body Image

In the digital age, our teens are constantly bombarded with messages that connect self-worth to body image.  Poor body image is a struggle for so many teens and can many times lead to dangerous thoughts, habits and behaviors.

As parents, there are many ways that we can help nurture a healthy body image in our kids and teens.  



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Although it's important to affirm your teen's physical attractiveness, don't allow that to be the focus.  Genuinely compliment him/her in areas aside from physical attributes.  Praise their academic progress or success.  Compliment them on positive character traits that they exhibit - kindness, honesty, responsibility, generosity, compassion, etc. Point out their unique talents and abilities.


Replace lies with truth
"Like any life-controlling issue, a negative body image thrives on lies."  (Constance Rhodes).  Some of these lies include: we must look a certain way to be loved and looking "good" will bring happiness.  Help your teen recognize some of these lies that society conveys and combat them with the truth and healthy attitudes regarding this issue.  And, of course, affirm and communicate your unconditional love and acceptance!


Communicate
Talk AND listen to your teen.  Understand the way they feel about themselves by the way the talk about themselves.  Simple comments can reveal a lot about their self-esteem.  Also, be transparent with your teen about your own struggles and how you've overcome them or are working on them.  


Model a healthy body body image
This doesn't mean you have to have a flawless self-image or be free from struggle.  However, be vulnerable with your teen, but ban "fat talk" and discuss what you see and hear around you regarding body image.  Be sure to carefully monitor media influence.  So many types of magazines, TV shows and websites can contribute to poor body image.




*If your teen is dealing with dangerous body-image issues or eating disorders, they may need to talk with someone who can offer them professional help.  

Let's talk about sex!

So, maybe you won't bring it up like that and most likely, by now, you or someone else has had "the talk" or "a talk" with your teenager about sex. If not, they are sure to have been exposed to other conversations, images, opinions, advice, and even experimented in this area.  

March is National Talk to your Teen About Sex Month and we want to encourage you to keep the lines of communication open on this subject, even when it seems awkward because... 

"when parents talk to and affirm the value of their children, young people are more likely to develop positive, healthy attitudes about themselves. This is also true when the subject is sex. Research shows that positive communication between parents and their children can help young people establish individual values and make healthy decisions.

According to Barbara Huberman, RN, MEd, Director of Education and Outreach for Advocates for Youth, parents who act on the belief that young people have the right to accurate sexuality information are parents whose teens will delay the initiation of intimacy and use contraceptives when they choose to become sexually active."  source

Don't overwhelm yourself thinking it's a one time conversation and you only have one shot.  It's about using everyday teachable moments to relay  ongoing messages about safer and healthier choices to your teen.

There are so many facts available, and you don't have to have them memorized.  If your child asks a question and you don't know the answer, look it up and get back to him/her or look it up together.

Here are some topics to ponder when these opportunities arise: 

• healthy relationships
• STDs
• teen pregnancy and childbearing
• abstinence
• dating
• contraception

Some resources/books we recommend for these discussions include:

Questions Kids Ask About Sex; Honest answers for Every Age, printed by the Medical Institute for Sexual Health.

Restoring the Teenage Soul : Nurturing Sound Hearts and Minds

in a Confused Culture, by Dr. Margaret Meeker 

Your advice, open communication and listening ear in this subject area means a lot more to your teen that you may know.  

"Research confirms what young people already know - what their parents have to say matters to teens." source  

A danger in your cabinet

Did you realize you might have prescription medication around your house that could be an issue of addiction and danger for your teen?! 1 in 5 teens has abused prescription pain relievers in their lifetime.

The University of Michigan did a new study that found, "10.4 % of the teens and young adults treated in the emergency room for any reason admitted to misusing a prescription painkiller or sedative at least once in the last year." These findings include taking drugs prescribed to someone else, taking more 
than the prescribed dosage, or simply taking them to get high. source


In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that 100 deaths per day, and around 700,000 emergency department (ED) visits per year, result from prescription drug overdoses. source


Why are teens doing this?

• 12 reasons teens use RX drugs: 

62%: Easy to get from parent's medicine cabinets

52%: Available everywhere

51%: They are not illegal drugs

50%: Easy to get through other people's prescriptions

49%: Can claim to have prescription if caught

43%: They are cheap

35%: Safer to use than illegal drugs

33%: Less shame attached to using

32%: Easy to purchase over the internet

32%: Fewer side effects than street drugs

25%: Can be used as study aids

21%: Parents don't care as much if caught

Where are teens getting prescription medicine?

• "65 percent of teens are getting them from friends, family and acquaintances. Some teens share Rx medicines among themselves handing out or selling their own pills or those they’ve acquired or stolen from classmates."  source

What are the risks?

• The are several obvious risks which have short and long-term effects.  Some of these include: dependency, addiction, overdosing and mixing Rx medicine with over-the counter medicine and/or alcohol.

Obviously, this is a very serious and growing concern.  It's important to be informed, understand the signs, risks and communicate with teens about this issue.

For those who are local to Northwest Indiana, you can check here for local prescription drug drop-off locations so that unused medication does not get into the wrong hands. 

Want to learn more? Go to www.pathblazer.org/ATIC2014