Body

Body image: how can I help my child feel good about their body?

Written by the Kids by Molliora editorial team, based on the sources below. Last updated: 2 November 2026

Short answer

Children often become less happy with their bodies as they get older. In the Swedish school children survey, 70 percent of 11-year-old boys and 59 percent of 11-year-old girls thought their body was about right, compared with 51 and 45 percent at age 15 (Folkhälsomyndigheten). Social media can make it worse through comparison and edited images (Mediemyndigheten, AAP). Avoid comments about weight and looks, praise things that have nothing to do with the body, and talk openly about what your child sees online (AAP, 1177). Contact the school health team, health centre or BUP if you notice big changes in eating or exercise (1177).

Question	What applies	Source
How common is it to be unhappy with your body?	The share who think they are "about right" falls between 11 and 15. Among 15-year-olds, about half do	Folkhälsomyndigheten
Are girls and boys affected differently?	Girls more often think they are too fat (29 percent at 11, 43 percent at 15). Boys more often think they are too thin (14 percent at 11, 25 percent at 15)	Folkhälsomyndigheten
How many try to lose weight?	20 percent of girls and 10 percent of boys aged 13 and 15, in 2021/22	Folkhälsomyndigheten
Does social media matter?	Children aged 10–18 who spend a lot of time on social media are more dissatisfied with their bodies and more often have eating disorder symptoms	Mediemyndigheten
Are boys affected by fitness content?	Yes. Boys seem more vulnerable to workout and fitness accounts	Mediemyndigheten, AAP
What should I say if I am worried?	Say what you see, without judging and without focusing on food, body or exercise, and listen	1177

What affects body image

During puberty both girls and boys become more aware of their bodies and start comparing themselves with others, and young people generally see their bodies more negatively the older they get (Folkhälsomyndigheten). Social media can add to this (Mediemyndigheten, AAP):

Comparison: social media makes us compare ourselves with others, sometimes with unrealistic or manipulated images. Anxiety, low self-esteem and a tendency to compare can make the effects stronger.
Filters and editing: influencers often have stylists and editing tools, and children may feel they need to look perfect too.
Algorithms: platforms show more of what your child watches. What starts as general health tips can lead on to dangerous diets or extreme beauty ideals.
Both girls and boys: both can be affected by beauty and fitness ideals. Boys seem more vulnerable to fitness content, and AAP describes trends of spending hours in the gym to build a very muscular body.

How to talk about bodies at home

Avoid comments about body and appearance, even kind or worried ones. 1177 advises this when someone is struggling with food, as such comments can have the opposite effect.
Praise what is not about the body: reinforce your child's strengths and good qualities that have nothing to do with weight, and tell them often that you believe in them (AAP).
No teasing at home: some children are teased by siblings, and some parents make negative comments about their child's weight. If it happens in your home, stop it and agree on family ground rules for treating each other kindly (AAP).
Teasing at school: make it clear that no one deserves to be teased about their weight or anything else, and talk to the teacher (AAP). Read more in our guide on bullying.
Protective factors: meeting friends in person and being physically active are good for how children feel about time online (Mediemyndigheten).

Social media and beauty ideals

Be curious, not judging: ask what your child likes to watch, whether they see content that makes them feel worried, and whether some pictures look fake. Listen more than you talk, and keep the conversation going over time (AAP).
Watch together: look at your child's feed together and talk about how people present themselves in ways that may not be true (Mediemyndigheten).
Show how the algorithm works: search for a new topic on your own account and see how fast the feed changes (AAP). You can often reset a feed so the algorithm starts over, and show your child how (Mediemyndigheten).
Age limits and reporting: in Sweden, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat have an age limit of 13. Report harmful content: the big platforms have reporting tools and a duty to check and remove such content (Mediemyndigheten).
A family media plan can help everyone use social media in a healthy way (AAP). See also our guide on the first phone and social media.

When it may be more than a phase

Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of gender or age, and it does not always show on the outside (1177). An eating disorder can easily be mistaken for "just living healthily" (Mediemyndigheten). Signs to watch for include (1177, AAP):

becoming more and more fixated on food, weight or how much they eat
skipping meals or avoiding eating with others
dramatic changes in eating habits
extreme or compulsive exercise, or anxiety when a workout is missed
vomiting or using laxatives after eating
losing interest in friends and activities, hiding in their room much more than usual, or worries that keep going round in their head

If you are worried, say what you see without judging, for example: "I see you are avoiding meals. Is there something you want to talk about?" Listen even if you do not agree, rather than arguing. An eating disorder needs professional help, and you can help by contacting healthcare (1177).

Try this week

Notice one thing this week that you praise in your child that has nothing to do with looks, such as kindness, effort or humour, and say it out loud.
Ask your child to show you one account they like, and talk together about which pictures might be edited.
Agree as a family that nobody comments on anyone's weight or body, not even your own.

When to get help

Contact the school health team, your health centre, a youth clinic (from age 13) or child and adolescent psychiatry (BUP) if you think your child is not feeling well (1177). Seek care as soon as possible if you think your child may have an eating disorder (1177). Call 1177 for medical advice or help finding the right clinic. Contact BUP if your child talks about wanting to hurt themselves or not wanting to live. Asking calmly about such thoughts does not increase the risk of suicide (1177). If your child is about to hurt themselves or take their own life, go straight to an emergency department or call 112 (1177). Outside Sweden, contact your doctor or local emergency number. See also My child worries a lot. When is it anxiety?

This guide is general information, not medical advice for your child.