Body image issues in adolescence: how to help as a parent?

7 ways to promote body confidence in your teen

Quick summary

• Teens experience a lot of body changes and that, coupled with time spent comparing themselves to friends or on social media, can lead to self-esteem struggles
• It can help to role model body positivity or neutrality, encouraging your teen to focus on all the amazing things their body can do for them, rather than just what it looks like
• Every teen is different, so being there for your teen to valid their struggles is key – and if you need a helping hand, the luna app is dedicated to empowering teen girls through adolescence

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Being a teenager can bring a lot of new feelings, and these aren’t always good.

Now, that’s not to say that being a teen is all doom and gloom, but changes to their bodies can bring self-esteem problems alongside them. 

Understanding the signs and spotting low self-esteem in your teen can help address issues early.

In fact, it’s been found that almost 1/3 of teenagers felt ashamed in relation to their body image.

luna also receives 1000s of questions around this topic – whether that’s asking for advice on weight loss, new body hair growth, or even feeling unlovable because of their appearance. 

At luna, we’re all about body positivity – it’s at the heart of so much of what we do – so today let’s talk about some ways you can help your teen daughter feel more confident in her own skin.

How to help a teenager with body image issues

Navigating body image issues during the teen years can be tough – both for teens and you.

With changing bodies, peer pressure, and constant exposure to social media, it’s easy for teens to feel insecure or develop unhealthy comparisons. 

Here are some practical ways you can support a teen struggling with body image:

👉 Answer questions openly about changing bodies

It can be scary when your body starts changing – remember the feeling?

If it works for the relationship you have, try sitting down with your daughter and having a relaxed chat about changing bodies.

Let her ask any questions she has, and try your best to answer them. 

It’s okay if you don’t know the answers, you can always suggest places she could go to have her questions answered – like the luna app! 

In most cases, luna’s teens have said they hate language like “blossoming”, “growing up” or generally turns of phrases that make them feel patronised or icky.

So, instead, try to keep things simple:

“Hey, I don’t want to make you feel awkward, but I thought I’d let you know I’m here if you want to talk about the changes that happen to you as a teen, I might be able to give you some helpful tips”.

Equally, dropping them a letter or a text can help them not feel too awkward about being ambushed with a face to face chat that they weren’t expecting.

👉 Try not to be awkward when discussing bodies

Discussing changes like breast development, periods, body hair and weight gain can feel difficult or awkward, but try your best to remain relaxed and calm.

Remember it’s all normal.

Once your daughter knows that you can have these conversations easily and without judgment, she will likely chat with you in the future.

There’s nothing embarrassing or shameful in these things, so try to encourage open conversation.

👉 Support her as she explores her new style

Adolescence is a key time for exploring new styles.

It’s a transition from childhood to adulthood, and clothes often reflect that.

She might want to start wearing new clothes, so it’s worth encouraging her to explore her personal style.

Offer to take her shopping, or suggest she and her friends go shopping together.

If there are styles you’re not so keen on, sit down with your daughter and explain your concerns rationally, and objectively.

If you’re able to have calm conversations about this, she’ll be more likely to listen to you and respect your wishes. 

What not to do? Well, we had a question in the other day which could help demonstrate this:

“My mum keeps commenting on the sort of things I wear. I’m 14 and I wear crop tops that barely show anything and occasionally some shorts. I feel like she’s always yelling at me about it recently. She keeps saying I look like an attention seeker. What should I do?”

👉 Encourage healthy and mindful eating

Discussing food and eating can be a difficult topic for some. 

Still, it’s so important to encourage a healthy relationship with food for your daughter while being aware of potentially harmful influences like the Almond Mum trend.

luna has far too many questions from teen girls about the comments people make about their bodies, which can really have a lasting impression and distort their relationship with food:

“My mum and brothers have been calling me fat and telling me that i over eat even though i dont and im not fat or anything but they keep calling me it and it makes my rlly sad do u have any ways to help me because when i tell them i dont like what they say to me they just say its the truth and i honestly have become so insecure of my body”

Instead of doing this, encourage your teen to eat regularly enough and eat nutritious and filling foods that give them energy.

Provide some easy, healthy snack options, such as fruit, veggies, and nuts, and suggest some yummy meals you can prepare together.

It’s also okay to indulge in a treat sometimes – this might look like popcorn for a movie night, ice cream at the beach or a dessert if you go out for dinner.

Remember, teens need lots of food to help them grow and develop – everything can be enjoyed, in moderation.

👉 Discuss the benefits of exercise

Staying active is exceptionally beneficial for teens, but you need to speak their language to motivate them to exercise. 

Instead of just explaining the healthy benefits, share with them the other benefits of regular exercise. 

From making new friends to finding a hobby, physical exercise can help teens achieve a lot. 

And by explaining these benefits, you’ll be able to encourage your teen to start making physical exercise a part of their daily routine. 

👉 Speak kindly and positively to her

One of the best ways you can help your daughter feel good about herself is to speak kindly about her body.

This can be tricky, as you might feel worried about upsetting her or bringing up something she doesn’t want to discuss, but creating a body positive environment will do wonders for your daughter’s self-esteem.

Make a point of telling her she looks beautiful or that she really suits her outfit even if she eye rolls or groans in response.

These kinds of comments are likely to stay with her even so. 

If she hears it from you regularly, she’ll start to believe it and hopefully spread similar messages to her friends and close ones.

👉 Introduce her to a positive community 

Having a safe and supportive space can make all the difference. 

Surrounding your teen with people who uplift rather than judge helps them feel accepted and understood.

That’s where luna comes in. 

It’s a safe space where teens can ask questions anonymously and get expert answers.

Whether they’re struggling with body image, mental health, or general health concerns, luna provides reliable advice in a space that’s free from judgment – helping your teen feel heard, confident, and supported.

Raising a daughter with a positive body image

Raising a teen with a positive body image starts with small, consistent actions. 

Ultimately, everyone’s different, and no advice can be a one-size-fits-all situation, but hopefully, this has given you some ideas or insights that will help.

Remember, if you’re ever stuck for answers or you feel your daughter isn’t listening to your advice, luna’s got plenty of articles and videos that can help empower her.

Plus, there’s a team of medics on hand who offer advice on any concerns she might have.