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" &amp;quot;My parents told me that I should go on a diet, and it really hurt my feelings. I know they care about me and know what&amp;#039;s best, but I think I look okay. Should I listen to them?&amp;quot; - Alicia, 15, Hamilton, CA  Wow Alicia, I bet it would hurt your feelings. Even if your parents were intending to be helpful \u2013 they kind of went about in a wrong way. Were you in the middle of having a conversation with them about health and body image? Or did you ask them for advice? If not, then something like this can really hurt for the simple fact that it is quite violating when anyone *(even and especially our parents) choose to comment on our bodies \u2013 unsolicited! If you think you look okay and feel comfortable in your body \u2013 that is what REALLY matters. Here&amp;#039;s what I would do. Pick a time to talk to your parents and tell them how you feel. Try not to do it around a meal time like dinner but instead when everyone is relaxed and hanging out. Let them know that their comment really upset you because you feel good about your body image. Perhaps you can ask them what their intention was in saying that. Sometimes when our parents are unhappy about their own bodies and health \u2013 they can throw it our way without even realizing it. So basically, I am suggesting to first invite more conversation about this with your parents \u2013 let them know how you feel. In the end \u2013 it is your body and your health and you get to choose how to express that. If you don&amp;#039;t feel the need to shed some weight then don&amp;#039;t. And by all means, even if you did \u2013 DON&amp;#039;T DIET \u2013 do a lifestyle change in slow and steady steps (walk a bit more, cut down on unhealthy snacks). Don&amp;#039;t do anything drastic and listen to your gut! Jess Weiner is an author, self-esteem expert, and Seventeen&amp;#039;s new Body Peace adviser. To ask Jess your body-image questions, share your thoughts, or vent your frustrations, leave your comments below or send them here. Jess will answer new questions every week! Learn more about Jess at withjess.com. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.seventeen.com/health/advice/a1357/jess-blog-40708/>