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I see what you're saying but I'm not just referring to habits. What are some ways we can prevent a young girl from starving herself in the hope that she might look like a photoshopped supermodel? With regard to obesity, I think it is often borne of bad habits but again, distorted self-image comes into play. Maybe not just self-image--I think there is an issue of control going on. An anorexic becomes obsessed with the idea of having supreme control; I think that, possibly, someone who is obese is succumbing to having no control. I remember reading, a while back, that many children who have suffered sexual abuse become obese: They were powerless to stop the abuse, they go on to lose power over other aspects of their lives. Granted, that is a pretty specific example but I do believe that control is a common underlying factor with any weight issue.

What are some ways we can prevent a young girl from starving herself in the hope that she might look like a photoshopped supermodel?

Because I was anorexic in HS, and when my good Italian mother forced me to eat, I would then become bulimic, all I can say is you really cant prevent it. Anorexia is all about control. The only think I felt I had control over in HS was my food intake. Classes, homework, peer pressure, parties, boy friends, girl friends etc, I felt I had no control over any of it, but hey, I could eat or not eat at my own discretion...

With regard to obesity, I think it is often borne of bad habits but again, distorted self-image comes into play

As for the weight problem now a days... don't you think it has something to do with the fact we cant let our kids out to roam like we used to? I used to leave the house and play at this neighbor or that neighbor all summer long, as long as I was home by dusk. I panic letting my kids ride their bikes down the street. Our children cant be children like we were, and without that activity, the weight packs on..

Cant blame it on Twinkies, I loved Twinkies when I was little, but I would go out and play to burn it off

My daughter is a little over-weight. She is an identical twin and weighs at least 10 lbs more than her twin sister.

She just eats more than either of my other kids, and she always has (even as a baby). My other two kids rarely finish their food, and she is always asking for 2nds (or 3rds).

One summer, I kept juice boxes in the refrigerator. I noticed that she put on a lot of weight. She was about 4 years old, and she had just been getting juice boxes out and drinking them without me knowing it. I moved the juice boxes after that.

I've had to put my foot down with her. I've told her that she can't eat the sweets, and I have to tell her no when she wants 2nds or 3rds. I tell her that she can have as many fruits and vegetables as she wants, but that's it.

It's hard because my son is really skinny, and I'm always trying to get him to eat more.