Are you worried your daughter is overly concerned with her weight?  You’re not alone.  Studies have shows teenage girls are dissatisfied with their bodies at a rate ranging from 50% to as high as 90%.  It’s distressing to think that many adolescents feel preoccupied with wishing they looked different.

There is a big difference between teenagers who do not like their bodies, and those who go a step further.  Some may not like what they see, but they still wear swimsuits, eat normally, exercise appropriately, and do not complain about themselves too often.  Other girls are regularly trying to diet, and feel very self-conscious in certain attire.

I had a college roommate who was as beautiful and fit as could be.  We went to school in Tucson, Arizona and it was dreadfully hot every Fall when we’d start classes.  Despite this, I never once saw her wear anything besides pants.  When I asked her about this she said it’s because her legs looked fat, and that they would never look as good as they had when she was a ballerina in high school.  As a result she created a rule for herself that she was not allowed to show her legs under any circumstances.  She ultimately created more and more rules for herself until she had imprisoned herself in the trap of anorexia.  It was heartbreaking.

If you’re worried about whether your daughter is too concerned with her weight, she probably is.  You wouldn’t be clued into this being a problem if it weren’t.  Just in case though, here are some things to watch for:

1. Your daughter has cut out certain types of food such as “carbs.”

2.  Your daughter won’t wear a swimsuit in front of anyone.

3.  Your daughter talks about food constantly.

4.  Your daughter makes comments comparing her body to other girls or women on a regular basis.

5.  Your daughter seems to be on a perpetual diet and/or exercise regimen.

6.  You daughter has calorie counting and/or fitness tracking apps on her phone.

If you start to see some of these behaviors, it’s time to begin the conversation about whether your teenager is too concerned with her weight.  It can quickly bud into an obsession that overtakes her life.  Believe me, I know since I struggled with this very obsession from age 15 to age 22.  That is seven years of my life I can’t get back.  The main focus during those seven years was weight loss and fitness at a time when I should have been having fun with friends and learning a lot in school.

I work with a great number of clients who are unhappy with their appearance.  Some of them have gotten all the way into an eating disorder, and others are on the borderline.  It’s always helpful to them when A) they realize many, many others feel the same as they do and B) there are so many other facets that make up who a person is.  Treating poor body image is not as simple as this, but it’s where you can start as a parent.

Helping teens grow and families improve connection,

Lauren Goodman, MS, MFT