They say they weigh too much, but they don’t. More and more people would look in the mirror and think, “I’m fat!” But a growing number are children, usually girls, who aren’t overweight but believe they are.

Pediatricians say that what goes on at home and what comes out of the media are both huge factors which cause this. Magazines and TV shows that worship ultra-thin models and pop-stars fuel the trend. They lead kids to think such unrealistic goals are the norm. Parents who obsess over their own eating or exercise habits can make things worse. In response to this, two messages need to be transmitted – one is that people come in all different shapes and sizes, the other is that we need to focus on children’s strength, self-esteem and sense of accomplishment, not just on their bodies.

Low body esteem, like low self-esteem can leave one fealing depressed, frustrated and socially isolated. It can also lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as eating disorders, using steroids to build more muscle, fad diets and even smoking to control weight. Pediatricians suggest parents to coach their children to build positive concept of his/her body and hiself/herself based on values that will last. Besides this, parents are also recommended to lessen, if not eliminate, all factors that could further increase the childs insecurity. Through these, children would be able to accept who they are that would lead them to a healthy and productive life.