01/06/2026
This time of year can be heavy for youth and teens.
New year messages everywhere: “fix this,” “change that,” “be better.” For young people already questioning their bodies, it can quietly say: you are not enough as you are.
When a youth says, “I am fat,” it’s rarely about weight. It’s often about feeling not good enough, unsafe in their body, or afraid of not belonging.
Before correcting, pause. What they need first is to feel seen and held.
From an emotion-focused lens:
Validate the feeling: “It sounds really hard to feel uncomfortable in your body.”
Get curious, not corrective: “What’s been making it feel worse lately?”
Reassure connection: “You don’t have to change to be loved here.”
Why New Year’s resolutions can hurt:
When the message is “new year, new body,” kids hear: who you are right now isn’t good enough. This can deepen shame, anxiety, and disordered eating patterns.
About dieting as parents:
Children don’t just hear what we say—they absorb what we model. Diet talk, body criticism, and “earning” food can teach them that bodies are problems to be fixed, not homes to be cared for.
If you’re worried, watch for signs like:
Skipping meals, rigid food rules, or frequent dieting.
Increased body checking or negative self-talk.
Anxiety around eating or changes in mood, energy, or confidence.
A growing belief that their worth depends on appearance.
Ways to support youth right now:
Lead with empathy before fixing
Keep bodies neutral: avoid comments on size (theirs or yours)
Model self-compassion in how you speak about your own body
Shift the focus from “changing bodies” to supporting wellbeing (rest, play, nourishment, connection)
Remind them often: their worth is not tied to appearance
If you’re worried about your child’s eating, dieting, or if they’re struggling with confidence and who they are, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I offer counselling support for parents and youth.
Reach out: [email protected]
www.three-peaks.ca
You don’t have to love your body every day.
But every young person deserves to know:
You are already enough. Just as you are.