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Expert Q&A
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| By Eve Eliot Eating Disorder Expert | ||
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My daughter is 5 feet, 2 inches tall and 140 pounds. She brought a new bikini, but I feel she's too fat to wear it. What should I do?
Since the average American woman is 5 feet, 5 1/2 inches tall and weighs 156 pounds, your daughter at 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing 140 is only "fat" compared to Barbie, Brittany and Brandi.
While I can well understand your concern for her in case she should be shunned or snickered at, it is important for your daughter to experience whatever consequences will evolve from the wearing of the bikini. Perhaps she will love wearing it and glory in her body. This would be a good thing.
On the other hand, if she winds up horrified with how she looks and feels when wearing it in public and not just in the changing room, she may be motivated to get more fit.
In either case, she needs to experience these things from her own perspective and not from her parent's."
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