There are multiple multibillion dollar industries sending girls the message that they need to be thin and pretty to be loved. I am bothered about how obsessed my three year has gotten with the whole princess mindset. Right now to her being a princess means you have a pretty dress, ride a pegasus and live in castle but that will likely change with time.

I have been trying to focus on telling my daughter how smart and brave she is but she is so beautiful it is hard not to tell her so. I really don't know which is worse, telling my daughter she is pretty and risk her thinking that her looks affect how much I love her or not telling her and risk her believing she isn’t the most beautiful little girl in the world to me. I didn't have these issues with my boys.

They do need to do more to teach children proper nutrition. The American diet has gotten so bad that it is almost impossible for the majority of these girls, or the boys for that matter, to maintain a healthy weight. One of the reasons so many young girls are dieting is that their parents and schools have them on such poor diets that they are overweight and need correction in their diet. Of course that doesn't mean they need to be on a calorie restricting diet but they do need to be on healthier diets and they do need to be encouraged to be more active. The most commonly eaten vegetable for five year olds in this country is the french fry.