Actress Denise Richards refuses to discuss weight issues in front of her children, because she fears they will pick up on her body image worries.

The 37-year-old has daughters Sam, four, and Lola, two, with ex-husband Charlie Sheen, and is determined to make sure they both grow up without worrying about their weight.

Richards is convinced she can set them a good example by never complaining about "feeling fat" and introducing them to her healthy exercise regime at an early age.

She says, "I’ll never talk about weight around them. And they’ll never hear me say, ‘Mommy’s feeling fat today.’ That kind of attitude just makes young girls grow up to be dissatisfied with their bodies.

"Working out is part of my life, not just an I-have-to-get-ready-for-a-photo-shoot thing. I exercise almost every day. The girls usually play in the workout room with me, so they’re learning by example."