The only thing that disturbs me about this thread is how quickly we have assumed that the poster, the mother who wrote for advice out of concern and love for her child, is the one who has been imposing unhealthy thoughts about the female body and its propensity to store fat upon her daughter. I didn't reach that conclusion from reading her original post.
From raising two teenage daughters of my own and having dealt with body dysmorphia most of my life, I am well aware of the dangers to them of every little thing I might say and I check myself constantly.
However, I am quite heartily sick of society --social studies, psychologists, psychiatrists-- telling me that if my daughter suffers acute anxiety disorder with episodes of panic and low self esteem then this must necessarily be because I, as her mother and principle female role model, have given her these conditions, that I have fostered her tendencies to feel bad about herself.
Sometimes, no matter what I say to my girls or how often I say it, they perceive messages from their school, their school peers and from society in general that they don't measure up, are not good enough, not slim enough, not smart enough. Etc, etc.
Could we please stop assuming that mothers are to blame and could we give each other credit for doing great work raising the next generation of young women in spite of all the crap with which we and they are bombarded regarding the ideal woman, femininity and the female body.
Thank you for listening. This post is not meant to target any individual at all. Just my own feelings on this issue having had to swallow the impressions of my daughter's psychiatrist, even though she is working with only a partial picture. When will women learn to support each other and not tear ourselves down?
To every woman who posted on this thread with tales of a personal history with body issues: I get it, I understand and I wish none of us had to go through it. We are all so much more worthy than we think.
Clare
I then began a battle with bulimia. 
