Preserving Body Preserving Body Image and Self-Image and Self-Esteem Among Esteem Among

Overweight Overweight YoungstersYoungsters

Joanne Ikeda, MA, RDJoanne Ikeda, MA, RDUniversity of California Extension University of California Extension

Nutrition SpecialistNutrition Specialist

Dec. 10, 2004 FNEP ITVDec. 10, 2004 FNEP ITVUniversity of Missouri-ColumbiaUniversity of Missouri-Columbia

Body ImageBody Image

Internal Internal representation of your representation of your own outer appearance own outer appearance

– your own unique – your own unique perception of your perception of your

body.body.

(Thompson, Exacting Beauty, APA, 2002)(Thompson, Exacting Beauty, APA, 2002)

Body Body SatisfactionSatisfaction

Satisfaction with Satisfaction with various aspects of various aspects of one’s body such as one’s body such as waist, hips, thighs, waist, hips, thighs, breasts, hair, etc.breasts, hair, etc.

(Thompson, Exacting Beauty, APA, (Thompson, Exacting Beauty, APA,

2002)2002)

Self-EsteemSelf-Esteem

Self-esteem is “how Self-esteem is “how much a person much a person likes, accepts, and likes, accepts, and respects himself respects himself overall as a overall as a person”.person”.

Body Body DissatisfactioDissatisfactio

nn

Discontent/Discontent/disappointment with disappointment with various aspects of various aspects of

one’s body.one’s body.

How Common is Body How Common is Body Dissatisfaction Among Dissatisfaction Among

Children ofChildren ofAll Sizes in 3All Sizes in 3rdrd to 6 to 6thth grade? grade?

45% wanted to be 45% wanted to be thinnerthinner

37% had tried to lose 37% had tried to lose weightweight

7% scored in anorexia 7% scored in anorexia nervosa rangenervosa range

Dieting is considered Dieting is considered one indication of one indication of

body dissatisfaction body dissatisfaction in children.in children.

How Common is Dieting How Common is Dieting Among Children in US?Among Children in US?

National Study of 10,000 National Study of 10,000 youngstersyoungsters

41% of Caucasian children41% of Caucasian children 40% of Asian children40% of Asian children 33% of Hispanic children33% of Hispanic children 22% of Black children22% of Black children

Our Society Promotes Body Our Society Promotes Body Dissatisfaction and DietingDissatisfaction and Dieting

Who Promotes Body Who Promotes Body Dissatisfaction in Children and Dissatisfaction in Children and

Teenagers?Teenagers? Teen MagazinesTeen Magazines TV ShowsTV Shows MoviesMovies PeersPeers TeachersTeachers ParentsParents

““Body Body dissatisfaction dissatisfaction

is the most is the most consistent predictor consistent predictor

of the onset of the onset of eating of eating

disturbances.”disturbances.”

(Thompson, Exacting Beauty, (Thompson, Exacting Beauty, APA, 2002)APA, 2002)

Body Dissatisfaction Body Dissatisfaction has a negative impact has a negative impact

on self-esteem, on self-esteem, especially among especially among

overweight overweight youngsters.youngsters.

““few problems in few problems in childhood have as childhood have as

significant an impact significant an impact on emotional well-on emotional well-

being as being being as being overweight.”overweight.”

Strauss & Pollack, Arch Pediatr Adolesc Strauss & Pollack, Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2003Med, 2003

Promoting Body Promoting Body Satisfaction and High Satisfaction and High

Self-Esteem in Children Self-Esteem in Children and Teenagersand Teenagers

*Point out that human bodies come in a wide

range of sizes and shapes and that there is no “perfect” body

size and shape.

  Celebrate differences Celebrate differences

in body size and shape in body size and shape among children and among children and

adults.adults.

Never imply that Never imply that there is something there is something

wrong with a child’s wrong with a child’s body no matter what body no matter what

size it is.size it is.

Promoting Body Promoting Body Satisfaction and High Satisfaction and High

Self-EsteemSelf-Esteem

**Challenge media Challenge media images of the “perfect images of the “perfect body.body.

Want to Be a Teen Want to Be a Teen Vogue “IT” GIRL?Vogue “IT” GIRL?

Staying up on the latest trends in Staying up on the latest trends in fashion and beauty is an absolute fashion and beauty is an absolute must for me!must for me!

I consider myself to be a leaderI consider myself to be a leader

I secretly (or not so secretly) love I secretly (or not so secretly) love to be the center of attentionto be the center of attention

Other people look to me for advice Other people look to me for advice on clothes, cosmetics and styleon clothes, cosmetics and style

        

             

Talk About What Talk About What Characteristics We Value in Characteristics We Value in

Our FriendsOur Friends

Listens to me when I talk about myListens to me when I talk about my

problems and concerns.problems and concerns. Cares about me.Cares about me. Enjoys doing the things I like to do. Enjoys doing the things I like to do. Is there for me when I need a Is there for me when I need a

friend. friend. Doesn’t tell others my “secrets”.Doesn’t tell others my “secrets”.

Promoting Body Promoting Body Satisfaction and High Self-Satisfaction and High Self-

EsteemEsteem

* * Advocate & demonstrate Advocate & demonstrate respect for the bodies of respect for the bodies of

others as well as your own others as well as your own bodybody

Model Body Acceptance Model Body Acceptance and Body Satisfactionand Body Satisfaction

Make positive comments about Make positive comments about your own body and the bodies of your own body and the bodies of others.others.

Do not make negative comments Do not make negative comments about your own body or the bodies about your own body or the bodies of othersof others

Verbalize your own rejection of the Verbalize your own rejection of the thin, “perfect” bodythin, “perfect” body

Believe that Believe that discriminating discriminating

against someone against someone based on their body based on their body

size is wrong.size is wrong.

* * Take a Stance Against Take a Stance Against Size DiscriminationSize Discrimination

• • Speak up when you see it or Speak up when you see it or hear ithear it

• • Encourage adults to take Encourage adults to take action if a child is bullied, action if a child is bullied, teased, or discriminated teased, or discriminated against because of body size.against because of body size.

• • Tell parents not to allow Tell parents not to allow anyoneanyone to tease or harass a to tease or harass a child about his/her weight.child about his/her weight.

How to deal with How to deal with overweight/obesity.overweight/obesity. Focus on behaviors Focus on behaviors

NOT weightNOT weight Soda consumption Soda consumption Fruit and Vegetable Fruit and Vegetable

ConsumptionConsumption Fast Food and Snack FoodFast Food and Snack Food Time spent in active playTime spent in active play Time spent watching TVTime spent watching TV

Set Behavioral Goals Set Behavioral Goals

Not Weight GoalsNot Weight Goals Limit TV watching/computer Limit TV watching/computer

game playing to 2 hours per daygame playing to 2 hours per day Play actively for 60 minutes Play actively for 60 minutes

every day – do something that every day – do something that you enjoyyou enjoy

Walk or bike to and from schoolWalk or bike to and from school

Set Behavioral Goals Set Behavioral Goals Not Not

Weight GoalsWeight Goals Drink low fat or nonfat milk at Drink low fat or nonfat milk at

meals instead of soft drink.meals instead of soft drink. Limit soft drink consumption to Limit soft drink consumption to

one 12 ounce can a day or less.one 12 ounce can a day or less. Eat 5 servings a day of fruits and Eat 5 servings a day of fruits and

vegetablesvegetables Limit fast food meals to 1-2 per Limit fast food meals to 1-2 per

weekweek

Discourage Restricted Discourage Restricted Calorie Dieting in Calorie Dieting in

Children or TeenagersChildren or Teenagers

Impacts of Dieting on Impacts of Dieting on Children’s HealthChildren’s Health

Physical well beingPhysical well being

Risk of stunting growth in heightRisk of stunting growth in height Lower bone densityLower bone density Delayed pubertyDelayed puberty Poor nutrient intakePoor nutrient intake FatigueFatigue ObesityObesity

Impact of Dieting on Impact of Dieting on Children’s HealthChildren’s Health

Psychological well beingPsychological well being

Preoccupation with food and Preoccupation with food and eatingeating

Sneaking and hiding foodSneaking and hiding food Body dissatisfaction, poor self-Body dissatisfaction, poor self-

esteemesteem Eating disordersEating disorders

Impact of Dieting on Impact of Dieting on Children’s HealthChildren’s Health

SocialSocial well being well being

Subject to size Subject to size discrimination by adultsdiscrimination by adults

Teased, harassed, and Teased, harassed, and rejected by peersrejected by peers

Apt to become socially Apt to become socially isolatedisolated

Does Dieting Help Does Dieting Help Children Achieve Children Achieve Healthy Weights?Healthy Weights?

A Stanford study that followed A Stanford study that followed 692 females from 9692 females from 9thth through through 1212thth grade found that grade found that increased dieting and radical increased dieting and radical weight loss efforts predicted weight loss efforts predicted greater subsequent growth greater subsequent growth in relative weight and in relative weight and increased risk of obesity.increased risk of obesity.

Stice et al, J Consult Clin Stice et al, J Consult Clin Psychol,1999Psychol,1999

Study by Harvard Medical School Study by Harvard Medical School assessed weight change of frequent assessed weight change of frequent dieters compared to those who dieters compared to those who never dieted.never dieted.

Over 10,000 youngsters ages 9 to Over 10,000 youngsters ages 9 to 14 followed for 2 years.14 followed for 2 years.

Regardless of their calories, fat, Regardless of their calories, fat, CHO, or their physical activity or CHO, or their physical activity or inactivity, the frequent dieters were inactivity, the frequent dieters were more likely to become overweight more likely to become overweight than those who never dieted. than those who never dieted.

Diagnosis and treatment of Diagnosis and treatment of childhood overweight is the childhood overweight is the responsibility of the medical responsibility of the medical

profession, profession, it not our responsibility.it not our responsibility.

►►Examine child’s growth history Examine child’s growth history over timeover time

►►Consider weight of biological Consider weight of biological parents and close relativesparents and close relatives

►►Conduct examination of child for Conduct examination of child for medical problems associated medical problems associated with overweightwith overweight

►►Recommend and provide/refer Recommend and provide/refer for treatment for treatment

Our responsibility is:Our responsibility is:

To help children and adults eat To help children and adults eat nutritious diets and be physically nutritious diets and be physically active.active.

To help create environments that To help create environments that promote eating nutritious diets promote eating nutritious diets and being physically active.and being physically active.

Promote Body Satisfaction, Promote Body Satisfaction, a Positive Body Image, and a Positive Body Image, and

High Self-esteem for All High Self-esteem for All Adults and Children.  Adults and Children.  

Recognize that the best Recognize that the best way to decrease overweight way to decrease overweight

is to create environments is to create environments that promote healthy that promote healthy lifestyles in families.lifestyles in families.

Believe that the vast Believe that the vast majority of parents love majority of parents love their children and are their children and are

committed to fostering committed to fostering

their health and welfaretheir health and welfare..

Know that our children are our Know that our children are our future and we are strongly future and we are strongly

committed to caring for them committed to caring for them and creating a world in which and creating a world in which

they can thrive.they can thrive.