How To Talk To Kids About Body Image In The Age Of Ozempic

After years of body positivity and size diversity gaining ground, popular culture appears to have swung back toward a familiar —and troubling—ideal: extreme thinness. Headlines about rapid celebrity weight loss, viral photos of dramatically shrinking bodies, and constant chatter about drugs like Ozempic continue to flood social media, newsstands and TV screens. Meanwhile, those frail-looking stars are dancing and singing across big screens in fairy-tale films.

For children and teens growing up in this constant visual onslaught, it’s almost impossible not to absorb the message that thinner is better—and that message can have real consequences.

“We know that repeated exposure to the thin ideal can foster body dissatisfaction, and that’s a major risk factor for disordered eating,” says Dr. Debra Katzman, staff physician with the Eating Disorders Program at SickKids Hospital in Toronto. “Kids compare themselves to images that are often unrealistic, heavily edited, and framed in ways that normalize restrictive eating and weight loss as healthy or virtuous.”

That cultural pressure is landing at a moment when eating disorders among young people are already on the rise. According to recent research from the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), one-third of Canadian girls aged 10 to 14 have dieted, and by Grade 8, more than half of young people have attempted to lose weight.

Meanwhile, SickKids’ own research showed an almost 60 per cent increase in hospital admissions for eating disorders during the Covid-19 pandemic—a surge that has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Dr. Katzman says the pandemic created a perfect storm: social isolation, increased screen time, disrupted routines, and limited access to in-person health care. “Kids were online for school, online socially, and seeing themselves on screens all day long,” she explains.

Layer today’s celebrity-driven thinness trend on top of that, and vulnerable kids can be pushed even closer to harmful behaviours—especially those who already struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, body dissatisfaction or a history of dieting. “These messages can trigger early dieting behaviours, which is also a risk factor for eating disorders,” says Dr. Katzman.

So, what can parents do?

Dr. Katzman says that the most powerful tool parents have is conversation, and advises being open, curious and non-judgmental. “Start by pointing out that bodies come in different shapes and sizes, and that health isn’t determined by appearance alone,” she says.

“Focus on what bodies can do, not how they look. So, instead of saying something like, ‘Your lean body helps you run fast,’ say things like, ‘I love watching how strong you are when you run,’ or ‘You seem really energized lately.’”

She also suggests using everyday moments—a magazine cover at the grocery checkout line or a TikTok about celebrity weight loss—as an opening for conversation. If your child comments that a certain actress or pop star “looks so skinny now,” rather than dismissing it, Dr. Katzman encourages parents to gently explore it. “You can say, ‘I notice you’re thinking about that. How does it make you feel?’ That opens the door instead of shutting it down.”

When kids ask directly about weight-loss drugs or express a desire to change their bodies, the goal is not to lecture, but to ground the conversation in safety and reality. “You can acknowledge what they’re noticing and explain that some people use medications or extreme diets, but those can be unsafe, especially for growing bodies,” says Dr. Katzman. “Healthy habits and balanced eating are the safest ways to care for yourself.”

That message aligns with updated guidelines from the CPS, urging health-care providers to adopt a “health at every size” approach—one that prioritizes balanced nutrition, joyful movement, and sustainable habits over weight-focused or restrictive dieting.

Dr. Alene Toulany, co-author of the new CPS guidelines, says it’s important to get the message across that someone’s ‘best’ weight is not always an ‘ideal’ weight. Dr. Toulany, also a staff physician in adolescent medicine at SickKids, explained in a recent interview with CBC, “A person’s weight is whatever weight they can achieve by doing safe, sustainable, healthy behaviours and also enjoying life.”

Parents should also watch for subtle warning signs, such as skipping meals, avoiding eating with family, obsessive calorie counting, excessive exercise, irritability, withdrawal from social situations, or increasing anxiety about weight and appearance.

If concerns arise, Dr. Katzman stresses that early intervention makes a difference. “Start with a caring, non-judgmental conversation, and seek professional guidance—from your family doctor, pediatrician or a specialist.

“The earlier we intervene, the better the outcome.”