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Schools

Body Image

When children and youth feel good about themselves and their bodies, they are more likely to develop a positive body image and healthy self-esteem. This supports greater resilience and the ability to cope with everyday stress and challenges. On the other hand, negative body image and low self-esteem can seriously impact mental and physical health. If unaddressed, they can contribute to issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, and eating disorders.

Schools play a key role in promoting positive body image by creating a safe, inclusive environment where all students feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.

🎥 Watch this short video on body image:

 

Whole School Approaches

A healthy school includes activities to promote positive body image and self-esteem and body inclusivity. Consider the following activities as part of your health and well-being action plan:

Establish a Zero-Tolerance Policy for Weight-Based Bullying

  • Develop and enforce a clear policy addressing weight-based teasing and bullying.
  • Educate staff, students, and parents on what weight-based bullying looks like and the consequences of such behavior. Consider training offered by Eating Disorders Ontario prevention services (EDO-P).

Promote a Body-Inclusive Environment

  • Shift focus away from weight and appearance in school messaging and activities.
  • Challenge stereotypes and assumptions related to body size and shape.
  • Use respectful, inclusive language and educate school staff on this topic.
  • Raise awareness about the harm caused by body-based stigma and discrimination.

Celebrate Non-Appearance-Based Strengths

  • Help students explore qualities unrelated to appearance, such as their abilities, interests, and talents.
  • Create opportunities for students to build confidence through activities focused on skills, creativity, and personal growth.

By embedding these strategies into your school culture, you can help create a safer and more inclusive space where all students feel valued and confident.

Teaching and Learning 

Using credible resources and activities that align with Ontario curriculum can help students develop age-appropriate knowledge, learn new skills and make informed decisions to improve their health. Below are some examples that can help with teaching and learning related to body image:

  • Ophea H&PE Curriculum Resources Grades 1-8 and Grades 9-12: includes lesson plans, student templates and assessment tools.
  • Media Smarts Kindergarten - Grade 12: offers a variety of lessons and resources to address body image, gender stereotypes and the influence of media.
  • NEDIC Beyond Images Grades 4-8: offers self-esteem and body image curriculum to address critical media literacy, digital citizenship, body-based bullying. 
  • Dove Self-Esteem Project and Discovery Education: Grades 4-5 and Grade 6-12 classroom resources that support health, social emotional learning, body confidence, and self-esteem. Includes teacher guides, training videos, presentations, activities, and student videos on body image and media literacy.

Student Engagement 

Provide opportunities for students to take the lead! Below are some examples of activities to help students build confidence, think critically, and support each other in building a healthy body image.

Body Image Peer Team
Create a small group of students (e.g., from leadership the leadership club or health club) who help promote body confidence at school. They can:

  • Plan theme days (e.g., “Comfort Clothes Day” or “All Bodies Are Good Bodies Week”)
  • Make morning announcements with positive messages
  • Create posters or displays with body-positive quotes and images

Student Podcast or Video Project
Encourage students to create short videos or a podcast series with positive messages. Topics could include:

  • How to support a friend to build self-esteem/self-confidence 
  • How to spot unrealistic media images

Student-Led “Kindness Campaign”
Students create and lead a campaign to spread kind messages school-wide school wide. Ideas include:

  • “Kindness Post-it Walls” where students leave uplifting notes
  • A “Compliment Challenge” run by student leaders
  • Collecting kind messages for a slideshow or assembly

Create a “Real Life Role Models” Gallery
Student leaders collect and share stories or photos of people in the community who inspire them - not for how they look, but for who they are and what they do.

Parent and Family Engagement

There are many ways to involve families to support their children to develop a positive body image and self-esteem, such as:

Body Positivity Family Night
Host an evening with fun, interactive stations: art projects, media literacy games, and open discussions about body confidence and kindness.

“All Bodies Are Amazing” Art Show
Invite students and their families to create and submit artwork celebrating body diversity. Display in the school hallways or host a community gallery night.

Media Matters Take-Home Challenge
Send home a one-week activity where families analyze ads or social media together and talk about how they impact self-image. Include reflection prompts or a creative response.

Share Information and Resources
Some helpful resources for sharing with parents and families include:

 

Choose from the sample newsletter inserts below to share with parents/families of elementary school students:

Help Your Child Build a Positive Body Image and Self-Esteem

Children start to form ideas about their bodies and self-worth at a young age. Feeling bad about their body or themselves can lead to stress, sadness, or even health problems.

You can help your child feel good about who they are:

  • Be a good role model. Speak kindly about your own body and others.
  • Praise your child for who they are, not how they look.
  • Talk about the importance of kindness, honesty, and other good qualities.
  • Help your child enjoy food without labels like "good" or "bad."
  • Teach them to question what they see in ads, on TV, or online.
  • Support fun and active play that feels good, not just for exercise.

Amazing Me offers some fun family resources and activities to support positive body image and self-esteem that you can try at home.

Together, we can help kids grow up happy, healthy, and confident.

Body Image and Self-Esteem

Body image and self-esteem begin to develop early in life. Negative body image and self-esteem can lead to conditions such as depression, stress, anxiety and eating disorders. There are many ways for parents, caregivers, and families to support their children to develop positive body image and self-esteem, such as:

  • Be a positive role model.
  • Encourage values not related to appearance, such as kindness and honesty.
  • Appreciate your child’s strengths and abilities.
  • Foster a positive relationship with food.
  • Teach your child to think critically about what they see or hear in the media.
  • Encourage movement and physical activity that is joyful and fun.

Together, we can help kids grow up happy, healthy, and confident.

Choose from the sample newsletter inserts below to share with parents/families of secondary school students:

Help Your Teen Build a Healthy Relationship with Food

Many teens feel pressure to change how they look. Some may try diets to feel better about themselves. But teens are still growing and need enough healthy food every day. Skipping meals or not eating a variety of foods can harm their body and mind.

You can help your teen have a positive relationship with food:

  • Be a good role model. Try not to talk about dieting or body shape.
  • Talk about the importance of being kind and honest and not just looking a certain way.
  • Praise your teen for their strengths, talents, and efforts.
  • Support healthy eating by making meals a positive experience.
  • Help your teen think about what they see on social media and in ads.
  • Encourage fun movement and activity that feels good, not just for appearance.
     

For more information, read the Ontario Dietitians in Public Health Resource - How to talk to Teens about Food. 

Helping Teens Build Positive Habits Around Food and Body Image

People often turn to dieting to try and change their bodies and feel better about themselves. But young people are growing and need the right amount of nutrients to be healthy. Not eating a variety of food or missing meals can be harmful for physical and mental health for not only young people but for everyone.  Support your teen to have a positive relationship with food:

  • Be a positive role model; avoid talking about your body or appearance or restricting food.
  • Encourage teens to value traits like kindness and honesty over appearance 
  • Appreciate your teens strengths and abilities.
  • Foster a positive relationship with food.
  • Teach your teen to think critically about what they see or hear in the media.
  • Encourage movement and physical activity that is joyful and fun.

Additional Resources

Contact Us

For more information or to access services, contact your local School Health public health nurse. You can also contact the health unit at 705- 721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or by completing our secure online Request for Service Form.

Updated:  August 19, 2025

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