Self-esteem and body image are often at their lowest during teenage years. Youth can feel awkward, self-conscious and isolated. Many teenagers, however, do sustain healthier self images with the support of friends and family. This page provides resources to help you and your child maintain a positive perspective. It also includes many resources to help you deal with problems related to self-esteem and body image, such as eating disorders.

PAMF Content for Parents

• HealthWise KnowledgeBase: Helping your child develop healthy self-esteem
  
• Teens and Eating Disorders

PAMF Content for Your Preteen

• Appearance


• Body Image


• Body Image- A Message From Your Doctor


• Discrimination Help Hotlines


• Eating Disorders Help Hotlines


• Gossip


• Hair Removal


• Make-Up


• Stretch Marks


• Your Body is a Wonderful Thing--Even in the Locker Room


• Weight Loss

PAMF Content for Your Teen

• Body Image


• Comparing Body Weight with Others' Question


• Dangers of Eating Disorders


• Discrimination Help Hotlines


• Eating Disorders


• Eating Disorders Help Hotlines


• Self-esteem

Outside Resources

• Body Positive: This is a Web site for parents about the dilemmas surrounding child weight issues. It includes many helpful external links on issues related to weight and body image, including eating disorders, discrimination and bullying. The site provides online resources include Web sites, live chats, newsgroups, mailing lists and other cool stuff.


• The Body Positive: This Web site promotes the Health at Every Size philosophy, which allows people to enjoy healthy eating and physical activity in their natural bodies. It teaches critical thinking about our culture's obsessive concern with thinness. The site focuses on creative art projects including poetry, murals, music, sculpture and others. It includes resources such as a discussion forum, educational materials for sale, reading lists, speaking engagements and the BodyAloud! program model.


• Building Healthy Body Esteem in a Body Toxic World: This site provides tools for preventing problems with body image, eating, fitness and weight before they start. It also includes the model for healthy body image and a book for parents.


• FOODPLAY Productions: FOODPLAY Productions produces national award-winning live theater shows and videos for children and teenagers that deal with issues of nutrition, body image, eating disorder prevention, tobacco prevention, osteoporosis, fitness, and media literacy. The Web site gives information about shows and provides resources for kids, parents, educators, and nutritionists.


• Girls, Inc.: This organization inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold. It includes many projects addressing health, physical activity and physical safety, along with other sorts of competencies. Resources include games, quizzes, community and stories.


• NEDIC Real Me Experience: This new interactive Web site focuses on self-esteem and body image. It explores issues through quizzes and stories.

Recommended Books

• All That She Can Be: Helping Your Daughter Maintain Her Self-Esteem by Carole Eagle


• Girl Talk: Staying Strong, Feeling Good, Sticking Together by Judith Harlan


• Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence by Rosalind Wiseman


• Raising Confident Girls: 100 Tips for Parents and Teachers by Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer


• Real Gorgeous: The Truth about Body and Beauty by Kaz Cooke

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