Nearly two-thirds of parents report that their child is insecure about some aspect of his or her appearance, according to the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health from University of Michigan Health. In addition, one in five parents say their teens don't like being photographed because they're too insecure.

“Children start forming opinions about their bodies and appearance at a very young age,” says Dr. Susan Woolford, a pediatrician at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

While it’s easy to attribute a child’s negative perception of their appearance to social media, it’s just as likely to stem from interactions with peers, strangers, or family members. But how can parents encourage body positivity in their children? We offer some simple things you can do to help kids avoid self-doubt and embrace who they are.

While retailers are increasingly promoting body diversity and positivity in their advertising, Woolford says there are some red flags parents can look out for if their child is preoccupied with or has a negative view of their appearance. Behaviors can include constantly talking about how they look, suddenly trying to diet or exercising excessively.