Episode #229: Helping Kids & Teens Develop a Healthy Body Image

The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole Beurkens

My guest this week is Dr. Charlotte Markey.

Today we are talking about body image and self-worth for our kids, especially those in the tween and teen years. This is an issue that is increasingly on parents’ radars, especially as we learn more about the impact of social media on body image and the increasing body image issues for kids post pandemic. It can be a tricky thing for parents and other adults to know how to best support kids in developing a healthy body image and to understand the differing needs that girls and boys may have around this. Charlotte and I will talk through current research on how younger brains are extremely impressionable, perceptions of adolescents, helpful approaches to developing a healthy body image, and how to support those that are struggling, including when professional help may be worth seeking.

Dr. Charlotte Markey is a world leading expert in body image research, having studied all things body image, eating behavior and weight management for her entire adult life. She's passionate about understanding what makes us feel good about our bodies, and helping people develop a healthy body image. Charlotte loves to share her body image wisdom with others and is an experienced book author, blogger and professor at Rutgers University. She has created separate resources for girls and boys: The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless and Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her son, daughter, husband and dog, and for fun, she likes to run, travel and read, but often spends her free time nagging her kids to brush their teeth or remove the cups and dishes from their rooms.

Connect with Dr. Charlotte:

• Insta: @char_markey
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drcharlottemarkey
• Websites: www.CharlotteMarkey.com www.TheBodyImageBookforGirls.com www.TheBodyImageBookforBoys.com
• Twitter: @char_markey

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Episode Takeaways

Episode Intro … 00:00:30

Introduction to Dr. Charlotte Markey … 00:01:28

What is Body Image & Why Addressing is Important for Development … 00:06:37

Marketing Messages in Social & Media … 00:11:03

How Adult Modeling Around Body Image Affects Our Kids … 00:13:17

Not Helpful to Link Food to Weight or Harp on Clothing … 00:16:55

Boys vs Girls and Different Concerns … 00:21:00

Social Comparison & Variations in Physical Development … 00:27:10

First Generation of Social Media & Impacts … 00:30:15

Appearance Culture & Stereotypes with Masculine and Feminine … 00:35:42

Warning Signs of Unhealthy Body Image … 00:39:40

Resources for Parents, Boys & Girls … 00:45:12

Episode Wrap Up … 00:48:10

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