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Bigger Models=Higher Self-esteem in Teens
July 8, 2010 Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM EDT

In Hollywood and on the runways, any size bigger than a 2 was a fashion "don't" until recently. A new trend is emerging, focusing on shapelier, more curvaceous women. But how will this trend affect teen girls?

For decades, super thin models were the only ones on the runway and in magazines. But now, actresses and models that are bigger, more voluptuous and more like the rest of us.

Experts say the media is one of the biggest influences on a child's body image. But there is another, even bigger influence: Parents who teach their kids to be perceptive. For example, when a more "real size" model is featured in an ad on TV or in a magazine, point out that she is also beautiful. The hope is that teens will become more media literate and less dissatisfied with themselves. The media isn't the only culprit though. Other factors that influence a teen's body image include individual psychology, genetics, physiology and peer groups.

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