Tips for Raising Children with a Healthy Outlook

On today's show, Dr. Ramani Durvasula joins "Growing Pains" star Tracey Gold to talk with mothers and daughters in the "Anderson" audience about their often lifelong struggles with eating disorders.

One mother in the audience tells the story of losing her 20-year-old daughter to anorexia, a heartbreaking story that Dr. Ramani wants to help all parents avoid for their own children.

First, Dr. Ramani insists that the conversation about food and health isn't simply about telling your child how to think and behave, but rather about modeling a healthy lifestyle by doing healthy things in your own life.

"What that means is that you eat along with them," Dr. Ramani says. "You help them make healthy choices. They see you being active."

Dr. Ramani also says it is important for parents to be mindful of how they talk about their own bodies. Repeatedly asking, 'Does this make me look fat?" after trying on outfits can alter the way your children view the world and their own bodies.

Most importantly, Dr. Ramani says, it is important to make the conversation less about weight, shape and calories, and focus instead on health and wellness.