You can help your children develop healthy body images by: Teach your children about smart food choices and help them develop healthy eating and exercise habits.

Together with your family, cook healthy meals, order healthy meals at restaurants, and get more physical activity. Rather than talking about “dieting,” explain that you are eating healthy foods. 9 If you want to lose weight to get healthy, pay attention to the language that you use with your kids. Studies show that daughters are twice as likely to have ideas about dieting when their mothers diet. Your body image plays a role in how your kids see themselves. Read 10 tips from the National Eating Disorders Association for creating a healthy, positive sense of your body. Working on accepting how you look is healthier than constantly working to change how you look. Also, most people realize as they get older that how you look is only one part of who you are. While very few people are 100% positive about every aspect of their body, it can help to focus on the things you do like. The more you practice thinking positive thoughts about yourself and the fewer negative thoughts you have about your body, the better you will feel about who you are and how you look. If you are eating healthy and getting enough exercise, your weight may matter less in your body image. If you are underweight and have a negative body image, you can work with a doctor or nurse to gain weight in a healthy way and treat any other health problems you have. 8 The weight loss program should include a focus on healthy eating and physical activity. Research shows that if you have overweight or obesity, your body image may improve if you participate in a weight loss program, even if you don't lose as much weight as you hoped.

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