Parents have a major impact on their child’s body image in a number of ways. The way a parent feels about their body can influence how a child feels about his or her own body. If a parent makes a negative comments about their body or someone else’s, a child can start to look at their own body in a negative way. The images of the ideal body presented by society and media put children and youth under pressure to look a certain way. It is important that home is a place where children can feel safe and good about themselves - just the way they are.
Parents who model a healthy relationship with food, engaging in enjoyable physical activity, and speaking positively about their body can help to shape how their child experiences and takes care of their body.