Hilaria Baldwin revealed that she began dieting at just five years old, a childhood experience she now connects to decades of disordered eating.
The 42-year-old mother of seven discussed her history during an interview with SiriusXM's Page Six Radio, describing a long struggle that included anorexia, bulimia, overeating and undereating.
"I did all of it. I did anorexia, I did bulimia, I did overeating, I did undereating," Baldwin said, adding that at one point she was even "afraid of how many calories might be in toothpaste."
Her disclosure has prompted renewed concern among experts about how early children may be exposed to diet culture and how conversations about food, weight and body image can influence their eating habits.
Children Can Absorb Body Messages Earlier Than Many Parents Realize
Disordered eating behaviors and concerns about body image can emerge during childhood, sometimes long before parents expect.
Erin Birely, a licensed clinical professional counselor and alumni services coordinator at The Renfrew Center, said restrictive eating behaviors can appear "surprisingly early," with research identifying such behaviors among children as young as preschool age.
"Research shows that children as young as three years old can recognize societal messages about body size and appearance, which influences how they view themselves," Birely said.
The ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders and Severe Malnutrition also warns that disordered eating can be an early predictor of an eating disorder, although not every child who displays problematic eating behaviors will go on to develop one.
The concern arises as children encounter messages about appearance from multiple sources, including social media, entertainment, and conversations at home. Experts have also warned of a focus on thinness following years of increased attention to body positivity and body neutrality.
Baldwin Says She Wants to Change the Conversation at Home
Baldwin said she had been determined to address her own struggles before becoming a parent. She now has seven children and said she recognizes that shielding them entirely from diet culture may not be possible.
"No matter how much I try to bubble wrap [my kids], diet culture messaging to get through," Baldwin said.
Instead, she tries to shift conversations away from appearance and toward how food supports the body.
"What I try to do with my kids is empower them. Talk about strength. Talk about how the food makes you feel?" she said.
Emphasizing body neutrality and personal strengths can help children develop self-esteem that is not tied to how they look. Parents can support this by avoiding labeling food as "good" or "bad," encouraging children to notice how food makes them feel, and refraining from criticizing their food choices.
Parents and caregivers may unintentionally reinforce body-focused thinking even when they are trying to be complimentary.
Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, the regional medical director at the Eating Recovery Center, told USA Today that comments about whether someone's body is acceptable or unacceptable can send children the message that their appearance determines their worth.
"These comments about how your body is acceptable or unacceptable, it reinforces again that you are not worth more than your body...and that you have to present yourself a certain way for the world to find you acceptable," Wassenaar said.
Birely also encouraged parents to focus on their children's strengths, accomplishments and character rather than their appearance, which can help foster stronger self-esteem and a healthier acceptance of their bodies.
