Eating disorders are illnesses, not choices.¹

Eating disorders are serious biologically based mental illnesses, influenced by genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors.² [Read more…]

By Marcia Herrin

Body image is both the mental picture one has of one’s body and the feelings one has about his or her own body. Although body image is based on the body’s actual characteristics, it can be affected by past experiences, moods, or feedback from others. In other words, while a person’s body image to some degree reflects objective truth, there is also a subjective element to it, often revealing how happy the person is with herself in general. The more disordered a person’s eating is, the less objective is her view of her body. [Read more…]

By Marcia Herrin

Give your child the freedom to choose foods, while gently encouraging her to eat well.

Provide regular meals and snacks.

Encourage but do not pressure your picky eater, slow eater, or inhibit child to eat a wide variety of foods.

Model body self-acceptance by keeping disparaging remarks about your own body or plans to diet.

Model healthy approaches to eating and exercise behaviors. [Read more…]

By Michael Levine. Ph.D., and Linda Smolak, Ph.D.

1. Consider your thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors toward your own body and the way that these beliefs have been shaped by the forces of weightism and sexism. Then educate your children about (a) the genetic basis for the nataural diversity of human body shapes and sizes, and (b) the nature and ugliness of prejudice.

• Make an effort to maintain positive, healthy attitudes & behaviors. Children learn from the things you say and do!

[Read more…]