Q: You have mentioned research showing that using certain media can make teens sad and/or anxious and that there are also studies linking negative feelings to unhealthy eating habits. Therefore, do you think that negative feelings resulting from teens’ media use, as opposed to real-life events, can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors? ~ Starving for Approval, USA… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Ask the Mediatrician
Tagged: Body Image
I’m a seventh grader doing a project on how social media use affects body image – what does the research show?
Q: I am a 7th grader working on an independent research project about whether using social media can be addictive and how using social media affects adolescent girls’ body image. What does the scientific research show? And how can I learn more about this? ~ Scrutinizing Social Media, Wellesley, MA Dear Scrutinizing, As a seventh grader,… Read more »
What Can I do to Protect My Kids from Seeing Inappropriate Fashion Catalogues?
Q: I recently received the Spring 2015 Catalog from the department store Barneys New York. The catalog was sent to my house without any envelope or sleeve to protect it from being opened by kids, even though it contains pictures that I believe are inappropriate for young children. What can be done to prevent such… Read more »
My daughter is upset by Justin Bieber’s behavior, how can I help her cope?
Q: My 12-year-old daughter is devastated by what has been happening with Justin Bieber. She has been a fan of the pop star “forever” and she and her friends fervently follow his career and personal life. I originally supported my daughter’s obsession (allowing her to buy his music, hang posters in her bedroom, attend a… Read more »
When should I talk to my girls about media and body image?
Q: At what age should I teach my daughters about the ways media idealize thinness and display a narrow view of beauty? I want to reach my girls before their opinions are shaped by media influences, but I don’t want to alarm them about something that doesn’t seem to bother them yet. They’re in 4th… Read more »
The Good News about Children and Media in 2010
Q: It seems like all we ever hear about are the negative effects of media. What research has been done on using media in positive ways?
A: Indeed, studies in the past year indicate just how positive media can be for children and families when it is used in a controlled way, paying particular attention to its content and the context in which it is used.
How should I explain to my child that her favorite pop star is having emotional issues?
Q: My 6-year-old adores singer/actress Demi Lovato. How can I talk to her about the reports that she is experiencing emotional issues and may have an eating disorder?
A: The most important conversation you can have with your daughter about this issue is one that separates this pop star’s image from who she really is as a young girl…
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®
Is my daughter’s Halloween costume too sexy?
A: It’s likely you’ll get “But it’s just a book, Mom. She’s just a character.” You can respond by talking with her seriously: What is it about this costume that she likes? Does she realize how people will respond to her in it…
Answered by Dr Michael Rich, The Mediatrician
Do models in ads affect how girls feel about their own bodies?
Q: My 10 year old daughter loves reading teen magazines but I don’t want her to think she has to look like just the tiny models in the ads to be valued. How can I talk to her about this?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®
Racy magazine covers seem to be everywhere — how can we object?
Q: I am shocked to see the cover photos of popular magazines bordering on soft-porn. How do I object without sounding like I’m overreacting?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician
