Parents can do a lot to promote a healthy body image and relaxed eating behaviour: 9 tips from child and adolescent psychiatrist Dagmar Pauli and nutritionist Christine Jordi Bärtschi.

1. question your own ideal of beauty

A positive attitude towards one's own body and healthy eating behaviour can be encouraged at an early age. As parents, you can create a good basis for the challenges of puberty . The prerequisite for this is that you come to terms with your own body image and question common ideals of beauty. The better you accept your own body, the more you will be able to communicate this to your child.

2. do not make nutrition a permanent topic

Nutrition, appearance or healthy living should not be a constant topic in the family.

Let your child know that they are great and lovable regardless of their achievements or appearance.

3. taboos are a risk factor for eating disorders

As a parent, make sure that your child has a varied, balanced and nutritious diet and eats regularly and with pleasure. They should be allowed to eat according to their needs and appetite. Sweet, fatty and savoury foods should be eaten in moderation. But there are no bans - because taboos are a risk factor for obesity and eating disorders.

4. do not make sweets available all the time

For younger children up to primary school age, nutrition can be well managed by offering as wide a variety of foods as possible. Sweets should not be constantly available.

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5. regular meals strengthen relationships

Regular meals are very important for healthy eating behaviour. This ensures that everyone can eat their fill and eat healthy food. It also prevents cravings and unhealthy snacks being eaten in between meals. As the whole family usually comes together at mealtimes, good relationships are cultivated at the same time.

6. stay in dialogue with your child

It is important that you stay in dialogue with your child, also on the topics of appearance, weight and nutrition. If a young person is worried about this, you should take it seriously. At the same time, you can take countermeasures by critically scrutinising ideals of beauty.

Try to teach your child how to deal well with negative feelings.

7. how to promote good self-esteem

Good self-esteem provides long-term protection against eating disorders. You can promote it in various ways:

• You can convey that there are very different ways to be beautiful and that your child looks great just the way they are. Under no circumstances should you criticise their appearance or make subtle allusions, for example to being overweight.
• If the child's self-esteem is broadly anchored in various areas and is not only related to appearance, this prevents eating disorders. Hobbies, school and social relationships are important. Make your child realise that they are great and lovable regardless of their achievements or appearance.

8. good social relationships protect against eating disorders

Good social relationships in the family or in friendships and a happy, fulfilling life are protective factors that you as a mother and father can specifically promote. A good parent-child relationship also increases the likelihood that you will be able to influence crises or conspicuous eating behaviour.

9 Do not avoid negative feelings

Try to teach your child how to cope well with stress and pressure. This includes being able to cope with negative feelings and conflicts, getting help and finding solutions.