The average woman in America is 5 feet 3.8 inches and weighs 163 pounds.
The average runway model is 5 feet 11 inches and weighs 120 pounds.
It’s no wonder that 53% of American girls are unhappy with their bodies, and that by age 17, 78% are dissatisified. It’s also no wonder that spending 3 minutes looking at fashion magazines lowers the self esteem of 80% of women.
In continuing my discussion of Vicki Courtney’s 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter, we enter into Chapter 2, “The Size Demise and the Weight Debate.”
Romans 12:2 says:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
That said, our daughters are growing up in a culture that is absolutely obsessed about weight. The number of diet related articles appearing in womens’ magazines rose 70% between 1968 and 1984, and Americans spend $30 billion a year on diet products. Young girls are more afraid of becoming fat that getting cancer. A recent article in USA Today said that more women would rather be poor than be overweight.
This is my daughter:
I could not believe it the other day when she grabbed some loose skin on her belly and made the remark that she was starting to get fat and needed to lose some weight.
If nothing else, this woke me up to how susceptible she is to marketing. Even though we’ve read this book together and she intellectually knows all of these facts and figures, she is still a child of this world, this generation, and weight is such a focus.
It is important to teach our daughters, and to remember for ourselves, that God formed us in the womb. He knew what our body shapes and body types would be before he even crafted the stars. There is a popular Christian song that says, “You (God) made everything wonderful. What does that make me?”
God made you. He has a plan and a purpose for your life and for your daughter’s life. We need to work hard at keeping our daughters’ focus on God and God’s plans rather than what the world says about this generation’s “perfect” body shape.
My personal blog: Hallee the Homemaker
Find me on Twitter: @halleeb
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My daughter (10) got a new bathing suit last weekend, daddy bought it for while I was at work. She couldn't wait to show it off, in all it's shiney, sparkely purple splendor. 2 pieces (which I'm fine with) that were, shall we say, tighter than her skin. Come to find out she didn't show daddy how it fit at the store, just said it fit and she loved it. She and I took it back and got one size larger. I wanted her to cover her bit of a pudgy tummy but she didn't seem to mind so I guess I'm the one who's been brainwashed. I'm happier after reading the above, thank you very much, that she doesn't worry, at least not yet. (I should mention that in 2007 I lost 60 lbs. all on my own).
I love this, "You (God) made everything wonderful. What does that make me?" – Even me, a 39 year old will be focusing on this today!!! I always run every morning and as I'm typing I hear the rain. I really need to run to get my body where I know God wants it… but if I can't, I know I still have value!
Thanks for doing this study with us! I'm enjoying the book and am so glad you brought it to our attention! I'm learning so much!
I'm living with my feet in two cultures and can't win. In the UK I'm still overweight and in Malawi people want to know if I'm sick because I have lost weight – you can't win. The best gift we can give is the goal of being healthy and an appreciation that beauty is in many packages.
Definitely something that needs to be addressed today wth girls growing up. We don't watch a lot of tv and limit what shows are watched (we have basic cable about 12 channels). I think personally I have to watch what I say around them, too, about not liking the way I look, being fat, etc. Great post, Hallee!
Wonderful post! It is something I struggle with, after having a mother who was always dieting and commenting on my own weight (4 feet 10 inches – 100 pounds). I am getting this book today. I have a 6 year old daughter, who I want to feel great because God made her and not place her value along side her weight.
So true! I know my mother had a huge impact on my negative body image, and marketing hasn't helped a bit.
loved this hallee, ive been overweight my whole life, my mom has never made weight comments to me, so i never grew up thinking i had to be a certain size or shape. now with my own girls i hope to instill how beautiful they are at any shape. i remember a few months ago i took the girls to WIC where i was informed that my girls were too heavy, so when i went to my pcp i asked about their weight. i was told they were heavy but they were also both tall for their age and to not even think about their weight. danica is 31lbs and 31 inches. elizabeth is 39lbs and 41inches. not heavy at all….
This is such a great post, Hallee! My daughter is still a baby (well, to me she is at 1.5), but that just gives me time to correct my attitude about my own body image so I set a good example for her. Thanks for putting these words before me today!
I have three boys (all under), so when I read this, I think back to my younger years and high school. I didn't feel like many girls, and I think part of it was because I was in sports and my parents didn't let me buy or look at fashion magazines…or any popular teen ones at the time either. After having kids and my body changing, I feel more self conscious of my body than I did when I was younger. I think my parents were wise to keep me away from those magazines and encouraging being healthy more than being skinny. That has sticked with me, and I do value health very much now. Aside from teaching value as a person and an Image Bearer, I do think that teaching healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise IS so important and so many Americans forgo exercise and healthy eating…a pattern that has brought our country to a very high obesity rate. But – awesome post!