Growing up, my mom was always on (or off) of a diet. I always knew she was "back on the wagon" when the grocery bags were filled with frozen diet meals, meal replacement bars and diet "cookies". Notice I did not say the bags were filled with lots of fresh fruits and veggies, but that's another story. Although she never commented about my weight and always encouraged me to be happy with my body, I can't say that her behaviors didn't influence me. I saw the struggles she went through- losing weight, trying to keep it off, and eventually gaining it back. I swore I would never go through the same thing, and although I haven't had to, I've always been very conscious of my weight because of it. A new survey from the teen magazine Sugar found that girls whose mothers diet are almost twice as likely to have an eating disorder. The survey of 12-18 year olds found that 6% had an eating disorder, but that number increased to 10% among those who saw their mother's diet. Although the teenage years are a common time for children to rebel against their parents, it's surprising that 38% said their mother had the greatest influence on how they perceived themselves. 56% of teens surveyed have mothers on a diet, and 51% say they have dieted themselves. Many of the girls in the survey discussed their mother's negative body image and how it impacts them. They also talked about being called "fat" or other negative names by family members, and how strongly that influences their body image and self-esteem. Although my daughter is still young, I try to set a good example for her. She sees that I'm a strong runner who is healthy and fit, even if I'm not a size 2. Every day I work on accepting my body for what it is. I also talk to her about how special and wonderful her body is, all in the hopes that I transfer those positive feelings to her. What do you think? How did your mother's dieting habits impact you? How do you instill a positive body image in the young women in your life? |
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