On one side, you have the obesity epidemic plaguing our Big-Gulp generation of kids. On the other side, you have young girls complaining they’re fat because they don’t look like the skeletal models and actresses they see in magazines, on TV and at the movies.
As parents, we naturally want our children to be a healthy size – not too heavy or too thin – but how do you talk about this sensitive subject without making your child feel even more self-conscious about his or her changing body?  
Body image and self image go hand in hand, particularly for adolescents. Overweight kids may already be suffering from low self esteem and peer harassment. Also, over or under eating can be symptoms of emotional issues including stress and depression. 
If you suspect these underlying causes are at play, you may want to seek professional counseling help for your child or talk to school counselors, particularly if harassment is involved. Meanwhile, parents can play it safe by focusing not on weight but on health. 
Here are some other suggestions:

Counter the model-thin images your children see in the media with a healthy dose of reality. (Female models weigh about 23 percent less than average women who come in all shapes and sizes.)

Prepare your pre-adolescent child for the normal changes, including weight gain, they will experience in puberty. Stress that people have different body types and develop and grow at different rates.

Try to compliment your child on his or her talents and accomplishments instead of their appearance.

Let your children make their own decisions about food, but make sure you have plenty of healthy options on hand. The key is moderation.

Try to eat meals together as a family, and limit eating and snacking to the kitchen and dining rooms. Avoid eating in front of the television.

Consult your doctor if you notice a significant weight loss in your child or sudden, excessive weight gain which could signal a medical problem or eating disorder. 

Of course, as in so many things having to do with raising a healthy child, one of the best ways we can instill healthy habits in our children is to practice healthy habits ourselves. That includes eating healthily and having a healthy body image ourselves.

Patti Skelton-McGougan is executive director of Youth Eastside Services. Since 1968, YES has been a lifeline for kids and families, offering counseling, outreach and prevention programs to help foster strong family relationships and a safe community. For more information, call 425-747-4937 or go to www.youtheastsideservices.org.