Raising Body Positive Teens
Welcome back to Bibliotherapy Thursday! As we head into the warmer months, our teens are likely to hear the term “summer body” echoing throughout the spaces they occupy. The pressure to conform to whatever body standards are in vogue at the time can be immense, and incidents of disordered eating, excessive exercise, self harm, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts are frequently linked to body dissatisfaction. For parents, especially those who grew up struggling (and may continue to struggle) with body image and stigma themselves, navigating these waters can feel impossible. Thankfully, authors Signe Darpinian, Wendy Sterling, and Shelley Aggarwal have written an invaluable resource: Raising Body Positive Teens: A Parent’s Guide to Diet-Free Living, Exercise, and Body Image.
By sharing information on topics like promoting restful sleep, encouraging joyful movement, learning hunger cues, implementing stress management strategies, healing our relationship with food, and even sharing plans for diet-free meal prep, the authors provide answers to practically every question when it comes to having a peaceful relationship with our bodies. One of the best parts of the book is at the very beginning, in which the authors encourage the reader (most likely a parent or caregiver) to examine their own relationship with body image and see how it might be shaping the messages their children are receiving. Though media and peers play major roles in how teens see their bodies, often the most impactful messages come from how their parents talk about food, exercise, weight, bodies, and health — which often link back to how their own parents and peers talked about these topics. This book provides a framework for parents who want to break generational cycles of stigma and teach their children to love and listen to their own bodies.
You can find Raising Body Positive Teens in print and e-book at these retailers:
Morning Light doesn’t receive compensation for sharing book recommendations, nor do we receive a commission if you choose to buy the book. We just love them and think some of our clients may find them useful!