How can I help my child develop a healthy body image?
The role of parents in building a healthy body image in children
In today’s world, children are constantly exposed to images and messages, making it challenging to develop a healthy body image.
In this article, we talk about body image and share practical tools to help you, as a parent, support your child in building a healthy relationship with their body—one based on acceptance, love, and respect.
Body image is how we see our body, what we think about it, and how we feel in it. It also shapes how comfortable and confident we feel in our own skin.
Does everything start at home?
Children are highly influenced by their family environment. They are exposed to conversations about dieting, comments about bodies, and the way parents speak about their own appearance, as well as everyday habits related to food and health.
From an early age, children begin to observe their own bodies and form attitudes toward them. Research in developmental and clinical psychology suggests that children as young as five may already express concerns related to weight or physical appearance (e.g., Davison & Birch, 2001; Smolak, 2011).
Body image is a complex concept shaped by many different factors.
Many factors play an important role, including a child’s temperament and personality, as well as their social environment—such as family, relationships with peers, and cultural influences like current beauty standards.
All of these factors play a role in how children come to understand and perceive their bodies.
What role do social media play?
Research shows a strong association between social media exposure and body image concerns. Exposure to unrealistic beauty standards can contribute to body dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem, and, in some cases, the development of eating disorders (Sarda et al., 2025; Bonfanti et al., 2024).
We cannot fully control children’s exposure to unrealistic body representations on social media. However, parents can set limits on screen time, talk openly about how media often present unrealistic beauty standards, and teach children to think critically about the images and messages they encounter online.
Body image and mental health
It is well established that there is a close relationship between negative body image and mental health. Negative body image is associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and eating disorders (Grogan, 2016; Stice & Shaw, 2002). Early identification of body image concerns is important in order to prevent the development of more serious mental health difficulties.
Ways to develop a healthy body image
Practice mindful eating. Teach your children to eat with awareness and attention. How can this be done?
Encourage them to:
- eat slowly and without distractions (such as TV or phones),
- pay attention to hunger and fullness cues,
- notice the taste, smell, and texture of food,
- and learn to stop eating when they feel comfortably full.
The goal is to help children build a healthy, balanced relationship with food and better understand their body’s signals.
Celebrate diversity. Encourage your child to appreciate bodies for what they can do, not only for how they look. Emphasize that all bodies are unique and come in different shapes and sizes—this is what makes each of us special. Talk about how our bodies allow us to enjoy activities we love, such as sports, play, and other everyday experiences. In this way, you help children value their bodies for their abilities and strengths.
Physical activity also helps children become more aware of their bodies and develop appreciation for them. It is important for children to see you being active as well, as they are more likely to follow your example—even if they are not naturally drawn to sports. It can be really helpful to do simple activities together as a family. You might play basketball, go for walks, swim, or exercise together. The goal is not performance, but enjoyment—finding ways to move and spend quality time together that suit your family.
The words we use have power in shaping children’s body image. Encourage children to use positive language when describing themselves and others. As a parent, you play a key role as a role model, since children learn by observing how you talk about your own body and the bodies of others.
Avoid negative comments about your own body or other people’s bodies, as these can influence children’s developing body image and self-esteem. Instead, show your child that you feel comfortable in your own body and that you accept its imperfections. Supporting a positive body image in children starts with the way we speak about ourselves. After all, perfect bodies do not exist.
Focus on non-appearance-based compliments. Praise your child for qualities such as kindness, effort, perseverance, creativity, and sense of humour, rather than focusing solely on their appearance. This helps children build a more balanced self-image and strengthens their self-esteem beyond physical traits.
Open communication with children is essential. Create a safe space where children feel comfortable expressing concerns about their bodies. Listen carefully and respond with empathy, without dismissing or minimising what they say—even if their worries seem unreasonable or difficult to understand from your perspective.
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about their body and how these affect their daily life. Explain that every body is different and unique, and that our body is responsible for many important functions. Talk together about different ways to take care of the body in a healthy and supportive way.
You can also explain that as we grow, our bodies will change, and so will our thoughts and feelings about our body. This is a normal part of development.
When should I seek help from a mental health professional?
If you notice signs such as:
- Excessive preoccupation with weight and appearance
- Negative comments about their body
- Changes in eating habits
- Avoidance of social activities
- Symptoms of anxiety or depression
These may indicate that your child is struggling with body image concerns and may benefit from additional support.
If you are concerned about your child’s body image, consider reaching out to a psychologist or another mental health professional for guidance and support.
Early intervention can play an important role in preventing mental health difficulties and in supporting the development of a healthy relationship with the body.
Developing a healthy body image is an ongoing process that begins in childhood. With love, positive role modelling, and appropriate support, children gradually learn to accept and appreciate their bodies and themselves.
Bibliography:
- Bonfanti, R., et al. (2024). The association between social comparison in social media, body image concerns, and eating disorder symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Body Image.
- Davison, K. K., & Birch, L. L. (2001). Child and parental characteristics as predictors of change in girls’ body mass index. International Journal of Obesity.
- Grogan, S. (2016). Body image: Understanding body dissatisfaction in men, women and children. Routledge.
- Holland, G., & Tiggemann, M. (2016). A systematic review of the impact of the use of social networking sites on body image and disordered eating outcomes. Body Image, 17, 100–110.
- Sarda, E., et al. (2025). Social media use and body image concerns: A systematic review. Journal of Eating Disorders.
- Smolak, L. (2011). Body image development in childhood. In T. F. Cash & L. Smolak (Eds.), Body image: A handbook of science, practice, and prevention. Guilford Press.
- Stice, E., & Shaw, H. E. (2002). Role of body dissatisfaction in the onset and maintenance of eating pathology. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 53(5), 985–993.