Help your teen tackle body shaming

Body image is how and what we think and feel about our body. It includes a mental picture of the body, which may or may not match one’s actual shape and size. When people face negative remarks about their body image, or form negative opinions going by reactions of other people, it is known as body shaming.

It simply means, a fat but happy and healthy teenager may come home crying because other kids joked about her body. A skinny boy who excels at sports may stop playing because of negative comments on his physique on social media. Parents need to be aware of the danger of body shaming and stop it in its tracks.  

Is your teen’s opinions getting coloured?  
Internet search results, false claims on advertisements, celeb pictures can be a trap for teenagers to develop insecurities. Photos posted online often present a ‘standardised’ sense of beauty, which can make growing kids undermine their own self. If you notice any signs of depression in your kid around how he or she looks, talk to them. There is no ‘perfect body’ and they need to know that. Show them examples of alternate beauty – plus sized models, actors with ‘different’ face or body types – short or tall people who look good because they are just confident.  

Has your teen gotten into the wrong set?  
Social media platforms are, unfortunately, the perfect space for comparison, shaming, validation and trolling. Therefore, controlling, or setting limits to what a teen sees or does online can help guide them to find the right set of friends. If you notice drastic changes in your teen’s get-up or the beginnings of eating disorders, step in immediately. If he or she keeps hiding social media activity, or is defensive about negative remarks instead of rejecting them, get help. Take your kid to a counsellor, and if that doesn’t work, just go to a psychiatrist.  

Are you listening to your teenager?  
Teenagers are difficult to handle. They have strong opinions which are actually whims that change every day, and they don’t want to listen to you. But are you listening to them? If you notice something amiss about their eating, dressing or daily habits, don’t lecture, encourage them to speak instead. .