Hey Chubs!
Of course the world is Screwy about weight...and if you're worried about your daughter...then here is a guide to help her resist the diet trap...
Boost her self-esteem...
GIRLS with a lot of self-esteem are less likely to hate their bodies. "Don't focus your praise on how your daughter looks," says Susan Ringwood, of the Eating Disorders Association. "Of course you can tell her she's pretty but also emphasise how clever, funny, kind or athletic she is."
And be specific. Say things like, "You told that joke so cleverly. You've got great timing."
TIP: Tell her she's great and let her know she can always talk to you about how she feels. And talk positively about your teenage daughter's changing body. Tell her she is beautiful and that it is very exciting that she is turning into a woman.
Don't go on about your own weight...
SUSIE ORBACH, the psychologist who helped Princess Diana recover from bulimia, says: "It's important to keep our battles with weight and body image away from our daughters."
So no more moaning in front of the mirror about our fat thighs and wobbly tummies and no more saying, "Oh, I'd love a bit of cake, but I shouldn't."
Even young children pick up on it when their mothers hate their bodies, which is why psychotherapist Em Farrell advises mums to talk positively about their own bodies.
TIP: If your daughter says she's fat or ugly, don't just ignore her as she might be testing your reaction. Calmly tell her that she's great as she is and that you love her.
Focus on what her body does, not how it looks..
TEACHING your child to appreciate her body for what it can do rather than what it looks like has been shown to give girls more confidence. Tell her she's a graceful dancer, a fast runner or a strong swimmer.
TIP: Encourage her to take regular exercise and enjoy how it makes her feel rather than how it can improve her looks. Get out as a family on walks, bike rides and trips to the pool.
Don't tell her chocolate is bad..
"IF you say, 'Eat up your broccoli or you won't get pudding' it can teach children that sweet foods are a reward and vegetables a punishment," says Ringwood. "It also turns mealtimes into a battleground."
And you don't need to ban sweets or crisps either.
Research by Pennsylvania State University showed that children aged five to nine who had never been allowed treats were actually more likely to become overweight and binge eat.
"One of the most important things you can teach your children is to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full," says Orbach.
TIP: Don't have forbidden foods. Just make treats part of a balanced diet not the main event.
And let them find out what it feels like to be full and stop eating - so don't force them to eat when they're not hungry.
Don't be a diet bore...
"Don't talk about people's weight all the time and certainly don't criticise people for gaining a few pounds.
"With my own children, I tell them that a person's worth does not depend on what they weigh. I also ridicule the obsession with skinny celebrities, telling them Victoria Beckham looks awful and ill and instead praising women like Catherine Zeta-Jones who have nice, healthy figures.
"I also point out that men don't prefer very skinny women and that there are a lot of very, very large ladies out there who have attractive husbands."
TIP: Avoid buying her toys like Barbie dolls and, later on, letting her obsess over skinny celebs. Point out that these stars are not only underweight but look very different in real life without stylists having worked on them.
IF YOUR DAUGHTER IS FAT...
Never put your daughter on a diet.
If she really is overweight (get your doctor or health visitor to check) increase the amount of exercise you all do, encourage healthy eating and limit fatty foods and sweets.
Boost her self-esteem...
GIRLS with a lot of self-esteem are less likely to hate their bodies. "Don't focus your praise on how your daughter looks," says Susan Ringwood, of the Eating Disorders Association. "Of course you can tell her she's pretty but also emphasise how clever, funny, kind or athletic she is."
And be specific. Say things like, "You told that joke so cleverly. You've got great timing."
TIP: Tell her she's great and let her know she can always talk to you about how she feels. And talk positively about your teenage daughter's changing body. Tell her she is beautiful and that it is very exciting that she is turning into a woman.
Don't go on about your own weight...
SUSIE ORBACH, the psychologist who helped Princess Diana recover from bulimia, says: "It's important to keep our battles with weight and body image away from our daughters."
So no more moaning in front of the mirror about our fat thighs and wobbly tummies and no more saying, "Oh, I'd love a bit of cake, but I shouldn't."
Even young children pick up on it when their mothers hate their bodies, which is why psychotherapist Em Farrell advises mums to talk positively about their own bodies.
TIP: If your daughter says she's fat or ugly, don't just ignore her as she might be testing your reaction. Calmly tell her that she's great as she is and that you love her.
Focus on what her body does, not how it looks..
TEACHING your child to appreciate her body for what it can do rather than what it looks like has been shown to give girls more confidence. Tell her she's a graceful dancer, a fast runner or a strong swimmer.
TIP: Encourage her to take regular exercise and enjoy how it makes her feel rather than how it can improve her looks. Get out as a family on walks, bike rides and trips to the pool.
Don't tell her chocolate is bad..
"IF you say, 'Eat up your broccoli or you won't get pudding' it can teach children that sweet foods are a reward and vegetables a punishment," says Ringwood. "It also turns mealtimes into a battleground."
And you don't need to ban sweets or crisps either.
Research by Pennsylvania State University showed that children aged five to nine who had never been allowed treats were actually more likely to become overweight and binge eat.
"One of the most important things you can teach your children is to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full," says Orbach.
TIP: Don't have forbidden foods. Just make treats part of a balanced diet not the main event.
And let them find out what it feels like to be full and stop eating - so don't force them to eat when they're not hungry.
Don't be a diet bore...
"Don't talk about people's weight all the time and certainly don't criticise people for gaining a few pounds.
"With my own children, I tell them that a person's worth does not depend on what they weigh. I also ridicule the obsession with skinny celebrities, telling them Victoria Beckham looks awful and ill and instead praising women like Catherine Zeta-Jones who have nice, healthy figures.
"I also point out that men don't prefer very skinny women and that there are a lot of very, very large ladies out there who have attractive husbands."
TIP: Avoid buying her toys like Barbie dolls and, later on, letting her obsess over skinny celebs. Point out that these stars are not only underweight but look very different in real life without stylists having worked on them.
IF YOUR DAUGHTER IS FAT...
Never put your daughter on a diet.
If she really is overweight (get your doctor or health visitor to check) increase the amount of exercise you all do, encourage healthy eating and limit fatty foods and sweets.
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