Promoting a Healthy Body Image in Children

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As parents, raising kids who know their true self worth is a top priority. We know that low self-esteem can be detrimental to children reaching of their full potential and can put them at a higher risk for conditions like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders (Pelc et al). Combating low self-esteem can be especially challenging in today's world where kids can be constantly subjected to broken opinions of the world through the internet, social media, as well as peers. This article discusses how we can foster and encourage a Christ honoring self-image in children of all ages.

Point them to Their Creator

There are many lies in this world with the primary goal of making people feel inadequate, unlovable, and unworthy. After all, if we feel less than, we will always be looking for something to meet our needs, fill our inadequacies, or fix our problems. This world if full of empty promises of doing just that: buy this product, try this new diet, get this surgery, etc. Those of us that belong to Christ know that while we aren't enough on our own, He came and did what we, nor anyone/anything else in this world, could ever do to make us complete. And Christ did this for all who believe and follow Him as their Savior. Not because of who we are, but because of who He is. Because of that, we need not look anywhere else in this world for completeness but to our Lord who created us and chose to send Jesus to save us. While the world is constantly telling us what we need to change, improve, or fix about our bodies, what does our Creator say? Just a few examples we can find in scripture:

We are made in His image: "So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Genesis 1:27

We are fearfully and wonderfully made: For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139: 13-14

We were created for good works: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

His power is made perfect in weakness: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Be a Positive Role Model

In our efforts to help kids see themselves as God designed, we must first model this belief in ourselves. This part can be really difficult, but how can we expect children to love themselves as image bearers of God if we cannot do that ourselves as "mature" adults. Moreover, how a parent speaks and treats their body often becomes a blueprint to children on how to treat their own. If we as adults are constantly berating our bodies and talking about how we want this or that to look different, how can we expect children watching to learn to value their bodies? Something to think about: Do I treat the image I see in the mirror as a creation that was fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of the Almighty God? Before we can be good outward role models, there must first be inward change. God doesn't say we need to fit into a certain size, look a specific age, or have a certain percent of muscle mass, etc. in order to be worthy of His love. It is the broken world that tries to make us feel the need for such things in order to be loved. If seeing yourself as a creation of the Lord worth dying for is hard for you to grapple, and if we're honest I think we'd all say it is at times) ask the Lord to help you grow in this area. The goal here is not self idolization, by no means, but growing in our trust and admiration of our Creator. If we love and trust the Creator, it is truly hard to belittle His creation. All we need is to give our life to Him, not the latest anti-aging fad or body shaping hack.

Avoid the Comparison Game

When eating an apple, have you ever compared it to an orange? Have you ever taken a bite of an apple and then complained about how its texture, smell, taste is nothing like that of an orange? Yeah, me neither. It's an apple, why would we expect anything but apple qualities from it? How come we can accept and appreciate the differences between two fruits but when it comes to people we can get so caught up in comparing strengths and weaknesses? The comparison game can be so easy for all ages to fall into, including kids. Some key ways to combat this temptation can be through celebrating the variety of gifts and qualities of God's creation. Talking with your kids about how God gives different gifts to believers to compliment one another for His glory (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11) helps them see the beauty in differences, rather than a desire for a world full of only oranges. If your child points out how a classmate is taller, shorter, thinner, heavier, etc. talk with them about how cool it is that God makes us each unique and uses those differences for His glory.

Encourage a Healthy Relationship with Food

Promoting a healthy relationship with food is also a vital component to healthy body image. It's important that we avoid labeling certain foods as an enemy to the body through referring to them in negative terms such as "unhealthy," "toxic," "bad," or talking about food as a way to change our body's appearance. This promotes dieting, food fears, and a negative body image. When we eat something labeled as "bad," we can't help but feel bad as a result eating it. Similarly, if a child eats a food they've heard their parent can't have because they're on a diet to lose weight, they may feel guilty or scared they'll gain weight as well as diet talk makes both sound like something to be feared. Rather than viewing some foods as bad, we want to shift to thinking about how the body needs more of some foods than others to meet its needs. Because some foods are needed in larger amounts, it makes sense to have more of those foods in our homes and offer them more frequently. Focusing on the positives of fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy, and whole grains for growth and overall health not only promotes getting enough of these foods but also helps us avoid the temptation to obsess over limiting foods not on that list. Think of this relationship between different foods like that of activities our kids do. We likely wouldn't allow our kids to play Legos or dolls or baseball all day long instead of completing schoolwork, however that doesn't mean these activities are bad. To the contrary, it just means that more time doing schoolwork is needed for optimal education than for play. The same can be said for some foods over others. No foods are bad foods, some are just more important than others.

If you have questions about how to cultivate a healthy relationship with body and food, Marvelously Made Nutrition Counseling is here to help. Reach out today about scheduling a consultation for individualized guidance on building a healthy relationship with food and body image.

Melissa L. Warwick, MS, RDN, CSP, LDN

Marvelously Made Nutrition Counseling LLC

February 2026

References:

Pelc A, Winiarska M, Polak-Szczybyło E, Godula J, Stępień AE. Low Self-Esteem and Life Satisfaction as a Significant Risk Factor for Eating Disorders among Adolescents. Nutrients. 2023 Mar 25;15(7):1603. doi: 10.3390/nu15071603. PMID: 37049444; PMCID: PMC10096620.