Eating Disorders
ED AWARENSS WEEK : FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 4TH
Excellent Website on Eating Disorders
Something-Fishy.Org
Dieting Teens:
More than half of teenaged girls are, or think they should be, on diets.
They want to lose all or some of the forty pounds that females naturally gain between 8 and 14.
About three percent of these teens go too far, becoming anorexic or bulimic.
Remember that losing weight isn't going to make you a "better" person - and it won't magically change your life. It's a good idea to maintain a healthy weight because it's just that: HEALTHY.
WHAT IS AN EATING DISORDER?
Eating Disorders include a range of conditions that involve an obsession with food, weight and appearance to the degree that a person's heath, relationships and daily activities are adversely affected.
While commonly affecting young women, eating disorders are widespread and can impact people of all ages and sexes. It is estimated that several million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder, and the statistics are growing. The number of men with an eating disorder has more than doubled in the last ten years.
Whether a person restricts food intake, binge-eats, binges and purges, abuses laxatives, compulsively overeats, or excessively exercises these behaviors often are symptoms and not the problem. They often develop as a way of coping with emotional pain, conflicts related to separation, low self esteem, depression, stress or trauma.
WHAT CAUSES EATING DISORDERS?
The interplay of several factors can place a person at risk for developing an eating disorder:
Stressful life situations accompanied by a lack of adequate coping skills
Sensitivity to changes in life
Sensitivity to separation from family
Socio-cultural factors, messages about weight and appearance from the media
Possible biological predisposition, genetics
Family dynamics
Trauma
Read this interview of a girl who struggled with Anorexia and died because of it.
Concerned Counseling Eating Disorders Website
Links
Eating Disorders and Society
(Read other's stories -excellent site!)
- Binge Eating
Anorexia
Bulimia
Dangerous Methods of Weight Control
More on Eating Disorders