As early on as possible, make it clear that your family values include talking respectfully about your own bodies and the bodies of others, Manley said. This means it's not OK to talk about someone's appearance or body in a negative way, including their own.
If your child is talking negatively about their own body, listen and ask questions. It's important to keep an open dialogue with your child about bodies, so you can say something like, "I noticed you were talking negatively about your body. I'm here if you want to talk about how you're feeling or have any questions," O'Malley said. Don't argue with your child or dismiss concerns, as this invalidates their feelings, Manley said.
Ask them questions like: "How long have you felt this way? Did something happen to make you feel this way? Did someone say something about your body? When or where do you feel this way? How can I help you?" This is a great time to remind your child that it's natural for bodies to grow and change shape as they get older, especially during puberty. Genetics also play a huge role in our height and weight, everyone looks different, and our uniqueness is what makes us special, Cadillac said.