You might not realize how important your own body image is to your children’s future. Our talk and behaviors greatly influence our children, especially our daughters. We may take for granted how much they take in, even at a young age.

Approximately 7 million girls and women struggle with eating disorders 42% of elementary school students between the 1st and 3rd grades want to be thinner 80% of children who are ten years old are afraid of being fat 51% of 9 and 10 year old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet Attitudes toward body image are formed early in life, probably earlier than you ever realized. It’s up to us as parents to start our children off with strong self-image and to combat the pressures from the media. Our own unresolved issues about weight and body image may inadvertently contribute to the pressure on our daughters. The way you speak and act with your own body will have a definite impact on your daughter.

Have you ever struggled with an eating disorder? What steps have you taken? What has helped and what has not?