From Heroin Chic to Ozempic Chic - How to Protect Teen Girls From Unrealistic Beauty Standards

“Just suck it in.” “I just want to lose a few pounds.” “I wish I had her arms.” The comments go on and on. It’s not the comments that feel so alarming, but the fact it feels like they are normal. The fact that we can all relate to them. The fact that we’ve probably said them. 

Extreme thinness is back. I’m sure we all remember the heroin chic era from the ‘90s. I can picture the Kate Moss Calvin Klein campaign now. While the glamorization of drug use isn’t the same, I can’t help but notice the rise of GLP-1 medications and emphasis on thinness in pop culture. 

According to Vogue Business (2026), 97.1% of spring and summer models were “straight-size” (0 - 4), which is up from previous years. Yes, these are models, but beauty standards, fashion industry, influencers, and celebrities create cultural ideals that our girls look up to. Our girls internalize all the same messages we do: our thinness = our worth.

This message has been pushed so much, that a report by the American Association of University Women indicated that for girls, “the way I look” is the most important indicator of self-worth. The National Organization for Women (2026) found that at age 13, 53% of American girls are “unhappy with their bodies.” And this grows to 78% by the time girls reach 17 years old.

In my practice I have found that families don’t always recognize body dissatisfaction or know that their daughter is struggling with these concepts. Adults equate micro shorts, tiny bathing suits, and crop tops with body confidence. But teens don’t see it that way. 

Teens see it as fitting in. They are following the trend and determined to fit themselves into whatever mold has been set for them. Oftentimes, walking out the door in clothes they feel uncomfortable in and insecure about. 

As families, it might feel like you are fighting a losing battle, but the values and standards you set go a long way for our girls. They might be rolling their eyes, but trust me, they are listening to what you say. So here are some practical ways to combat the unrealistic standards being thrown our way. 

• Modeling 

What we model for our teens becomes the norms and expectations. If we are making comments about needing to lose weight, the stretch marks, the wrinkles, we are reinforcing societal messaging. 

• Get the scale out of your house 

When we emphasize one number when it comes to health, we are losing the plot. There is no magic number that indicates “healthy,” the BMI was created by a mathematician and does not account for body diversity. Weighing yourself can easily become obsessive due to the natural variation in weight depending on time of day, bowel movements, water retention, menstrual cycle, etc. A typical weight fluctuation is 2 - 5 pounds daily.  

• Habits over diets 

Instead of focusing on a specific number, focus on building healthy habits. Placing value and priority on eating when you're hungry, eating until you're satisfied, and eating the rainbow. Instead of eliminating food, prioritize adding healthy foods. Also, emphasizing daily movement. Every day doesn’t need to be (nor should be) a gym day, but get outside, walk the dog, hit the beach, finding ways to naturally move your body and feel good!        

• Social media literacy 

This can be touched on for many subjects, but particularly with body image educating our girls that what we are seeing online is often manufactured. Models, celebrities, and influencers are working with trained posing, special lighting, high quality cameras, and professional editing. Not to mention the rise of AI and the ability to produce photos and videos that look incredibly real. terrifying   

• Values 

At the end of the day, we have limited time, energy, and resources. Our values give us a framework to easily prioritize where these resources are placed. Working towards value based goals add to self worth and confidence. This can be academics, athletics, creative outlets. Our body is a vessel that helps us accomplish these goals. A size 0 body is not the goal.

Like all my newsletters, this is just the beginning. These issues are systemic and bigger than any one individual or family. But our families can serve as a safe landing ground from the turbulent atmosphere. We’re not here to mom shame if you didn’t say the perfect thing. But rather have you think about messages you are reinforcing over time. 

My hope is to send a message of self love and body diversity, while challenging the singular “ideal.” I hope this is a small start in moving the needle. 

Yours In Service, 

Christina King, LMFT 145704

Resources: 

(2026). Get The Facts. National Organization for Women Foundation. 

Shoaib, M. (2025). The Vogue Business Spring/Summer 2026 size inclusivity report. Vogue Business.