Body Image

Being bright and having loving parents and a beautiful home won't necessarily immunize teenagers from low self-esteem and depression. ...

When Girls Are Ashamed of Their BodiesAfraid of the Beach During my recent Cape Cod vacation, I rarely saw any less than lithe teenage girls on the beach. For five days I saw teenage girls of different shapes and sizes at the movies, malls, and m...

When Teens Obsess About Their Weight Could Your Teen Have an Eating Disorder? With the fashion and entertainment industries' super-thin stars serving as role models, it's no wonder that many young girls don't like what they see in the mirror. Th...

When your teen's "friend" is making cruel remarks, don't be afraid to step in and seek a meeting with his parents. ...

It's not normal insecurity for a healthy, developing teenager to be disgusted by her physical appearance. ...

If your daughter won't agree to getting a belly button piercing under safe medical conditions, I would refuse to allow it to be done. ...

When Girls Are Ashamed of Their BodiesAfraid of the Beach During my recent Cape Cod vacation, I rarely saw any less than lithe teenage girls on the beach. For five days I saw teenage girls of different shapes and sizes at the movies, malls, and m...

When it comes to screen time and kids, it isn't all bad news. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers guidelines on how to make screen time healthy and educational.

When Teens Obsess About Their Weight Could Your Teen Have an Eating Disorder? With the fashion and entertainment industries' super-thin stars serving as role models, it's no wonder that many young girls don't like what they see in the mirror. Th...

Body Image for Mothers and DaughtersKeeping up Appearances When Laura M.'s daughter Jackie, age 7, complained that she didn't have a flat stomach, Laura was taken aback. When Jackie came home from school and said she thought her nose was too big...

When parents present their arguments against tongue piercing, they should be careful not to shame or blame their child. ...

Recently, I made a huge mistake. I critiqued my own looks in front of my 4-year-old daughter. It’s no secret watching your body change during pregnancy and postpartum isn’t easy. In my third trimester, with both pregnancies, I wouldn’t let...

A 16-year-old writes to our expert for advice because her mother is pressuring her to get a breast reduction. ...

When a child is overweight, it's important that she knows her size will never affect whether you love her or appreciate her. ...