What you can do to help prevent your teen from developing an eating disorder
1. Encourage reasonable eating habits: Encourage your child to eat when they are hungry and try to eat as a family. But don't expect your child to "finish their plate". Respect when they are really full and let them learn to distinguish that for themselves.
2. Discuss media messages: Make sure you talk with your child about the way weight is portrayed in the media. Let them know that they can come to you with questions. Also, make sure to communicate that although the models and celebrities in the media may look beautiful, their weight is unhealthy.
3. Promote a healthy body image: Talk with your child about the variane of body types and that they can all be healthy. Never use names, even in fun, about a person's physical appearance and avoid making any comments about a person's body weight or appearance.
4. Foster self-esteem: Support your child's goals and celebrate their accomplishments, even the small ones. Let them know that you are there to help them and that you are proud of them no matter what. Show unconditional love and support.
5. Share the dangers of dieting and emotional eating: Remind them that dieting can be very unhealthy if improperly used and if done at an early age, but also let them know the dangers of binge eating as well. Teach them healthy eating habits. Also, let them know that talking to someone about their emotions is much healthier and way more beneficial than turning to food to try to make themselves feel better.
2. Discuss media messages: Make sure you talk with your child about the way weight is portrayed in the media. Let them know that they can come to you with questions. Also, make sure to communicate that although the models and celebrities in the media may look beautiful, their weight is unhealthy.
3. Promote a healthy body image: Talk with your child about the variane of body types and that they can all be healthy. Never use names, even in fun, about a person's physical appearance and avoid making any comments about a person's body weight or appearance.
4. Foster self-esteem: Support your child's goals and celebrate their accomplishments, even the small ones. Let them know that you are there to help them and that you are proud of them no matter what. Show unconditional love and support.
5. Share the dangers of dieting and emotional eating: Remind them that dieting can be very unhealthy if improperly used and if done at an early age, but also let them know the dangers of binge eating as well. Teach them healthy eating habits. Also, let them know that talking to someone about their emotions is much healthier and way more beneficial than turning to food to try to make themselves feel better.