No kidding around with body image
July 17, 2014
Following the release of new research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies indicating children are expressing dissatisfaction with their body size from a young age, the nation’s peak body for exercise and sports science, Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), has called on parents, guardians and teachers to stress the importance of being healthy rather than striving for a particular body shape or size.
ESSA Industry Development Officer Katie Williams said it was alarming to see more than half of eight to 11-year-olds involved in the study desired a body size slightly thinner than the average, and more than 55 per cent of 10 and 11-year-olds had attempted to manage their weight in the last year.
“In recent years, the pressure from magazines and Hollywood to look a certain way has forced our kids to adopt unrealistic standards of ‘beauty’ and pay much more attention to their body size than ever before,” Ms Williams said.
Ms Williams said modern-day kids needed to be encouraged to prioritise health over looks as being unhappy with body image had the potential to negatively impact children’s social, emotional and physical wellbeing.
“These effects will compound the already concerning health outcomes of Australian children, with the recent Active Healthy Kids Australia Report Card revealing that approximately 80 per cent of 5 to 17-year-olds are not meeting the Australian physical activity guidelines of at least 60 minutes of exercise daily, and have scored a ‘D-minus’ result for overall physical activity levels.”
“One of the simple things parents can do is explaining the benefits of physical activity to their children in terms that are easy to comprehend.”
“When kids understand how they’re helping to keep their body healthy and are continually praised for it, they are more likely to adopt healthy behaviours over the long-term.”
“Ongoing positive reinforcement will help to develop a strong sense of self confidence. It is important we support children to adopt lifelong healthy behaviours. This will assist in combating the rising incidence of chronic disease associated with physical inactivity and other unhealthy lifestyle choices.”
Ms Williams said curbing comments in the home regarding weight and body size would also help to minimise feelings of low self-esteem and children’s negative perceptions of their body.
“While it’s unlikely we’ll see a substantial change in the way beauty is portrayed in the media anytime soon, making a concerted effort at home to avoid judging others and oneself can make a world of difference to a child’s body image.”
“It’s amazing how much of what we say they absorb, and these sorts of comments fuel the belief that it’s best to be stick thin or even that having average muscle tone is not sufficient.”
“Being healthy should always be the goal and where possible, emphasis should never be placed on losing weight or increasing muscle mass when encouraging kids to get active. Rather, ensure the focus of physical activity is on fun participation, feeling good and being healthy.”
To find out more about ESSA or locate an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) in your area that can develop a tailored physical activity program to suit your family’s needs, visit www.essa.org.au.
Top tips: Prioritising health for kids
1. Start a ‘healthy heart’ sticker chart. Teach children that by getting active, they can help keep their heart healthy. Reward them with a heart-shaped sticker each day they carry out more than an hour of physical activity, then work out what rewards work for your children, maybe a new item of stationery, a container of bubble mixture, a small toy or a fun outing when they reach 20 stickers.
2. Avoid making references about weight or body size around children where possible (even if the comments aren’t directed at them). Children learn through mimicking, so be sure to leave any talk of dieting or that unflattering outfit until you’re out of earshot.
3. Lay out a range of healthy and unhealthy foods and work with your children to identify which ones are ‘always,’ ‘sometimes’ and ‘never’ foods, outlining why this is the case. Point out key benefits of healthy foods. For example, blueberries contain lots of antioxidants, which help to stop us from getting sick and the Omega 3 found in fish helps to keep our brains healthy and our memory working well.
4. Praise your children when they participate in physical activity and acknowledge what a great job they’re doing in helping to keep their body fit and healthy. Avoid mentioning weight or body size where possible and help to increase your children’s self-esteem by reinforcing that they are beautiful.
5. Try not to use unhealthy food as a reward; it will only negate the hard work they have achieved and can confuse the messages.
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For further media information, please contact Maya from Fresh PR & Marketing on 0410 109 102 or email maya@freshprm.com.au.
About ESSA
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) is the peak professional body for exercise and sports science in Australia and provides national leadership and advocacy on key issues. It supports its 3,500+ members and the community through fostering excellence in professional practice, education, training and research.
Website: www.essa.org.au
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