Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating
By Dana Perry
Do you have food on the brain? Worried about things like diet, exercise, healthy body weight and body mass index? You're not alone. Almost fifty percent of girls ages 11-17 are concerned with how they look. More than half of all teenaged girls are, or think they should be on diets, and only 34 percent of girls report being very satisfied with their weight.1, 2 That's only one out of three girls who feel like their body is the right 'size.' How could so many people feel like their body is wrong? Is it normal to wish you had a different body?
The way we feel about our bodies is largely impacted by what we understand as normal. Did you know the average 8-12 year old sees approximately 21 food advertisements a day? That's 7,600 a year! Teenagers 13-17 see close to the same amount. Of all ads kids and teens see, most are about candy and snacks.2 So, while just watching your normal TV shows, you could see your yummy favorite candy bar on the screen at least enough times to give you a huge craving. And think if you decided to go to the supermarket to buy that candy bar. While checking out magazines in the checkout line, what articles might they have listed? Usually there's at least one about the next new 'great' diet to help you lose a few pounds. So what should you do? Skip the candy bar and go for the magazine? Who knows? All this can lead to a very unhealthy relationship with food, and can turn into disordered eating.
Over half of teenage girls show behaviors of 'disordered eating.' This is the use of very unhealthy behaviors in order to control a person's weight.3 Unhealthy behaviors include skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting and taking drugs called 'laxatives' which make you poop before your body has had time to digest your food completely. The truth is, the average teenage girl between 8 and 14 gains 40 pounds. This is NORMAL and absolutely necessary to keep your organs functioning correctly.2 Each person has their own unique body size and shape, just like each person has their own unique hair and eye color. It is impossible for someone to 'diet' themselves to a different body. Food is your energy source and depriving your body of food is like refusing to fill up the gas tank on a car. The way you eat now can affect the way your body looks, feels, and works for the rest of your life. Obsessing about your weight and refusing to eat a healthy diet can lead to an eating disorder.
Eating disorders include the illnesses anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. Between 5 and 10 million women of all ages suffer from eating disorders and disordered eating in the US.4 Those with anorexia nervosa typically refuse to eat, or eat very minimally. They may exercise all the time, and following a meal may force themselves to vomit or use laxatives.5 Those with bulimia 'binge' eat, or eat an excessive amount of food. They eat until their stomachs are stretched to the point of sickness and then 'purge' by either making themselves throw up or taking laxatives.5 Those with binge eating disorder typically 'binge' but do not force themselves to 'purge' as a bulimic person might.
Eating disorders often can go hand in hand with other problems such as drug and alcohol abuse and depression. There also seems to be a genetic link, as eating disorders often run in families.6, 7
If you suspect yourself or a loved one may have an eating disorder, tell someone. If it is untreated, it typically just gets worse. If you feel comfortable, share your concerns with a close family member such as a parent or older sister. A school counselor, teacher, social worker, Girl Scout volunteer or other trusted adult may also be able to help you. Free hotlines and Web sites that may be helpful are listed below.
By phone: - Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)
1-847-831-3438
Referrals for treatment and information
- Hope Line Network
1-800-273-TALK; 1-800-273-8255
- National Call Center for At-Risk Youth
1-800-USA-KIDS; 1-800-872-5437
On the Web: www.4girls.gov
www.bodypositive.com
www.girlpower.gov
www.teenshealth.org
pbskids.org/itsmylife
1 The New Normal? What Girls say about Healthy Living. 2006. Girl Scouts Research Institute. Girl Scouts USA
2 The Kaiser Family Foundation; www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia032807nr.cfm
3 Statistics: Eating Disorders and their Precursors: National Eating Disorders Association; www.edap.org
4 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; www.aacap.org/cs/root/resources_for_families/child_and_adolescent _mental_illness_statistics
5 American Psychiatric Association; http://healthyminds.org/expertopinion9.cfm
6 Eating Disorders: Facts about Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions; National Institute of Mental Health; www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/eatingdisorders.cfm
7 ANRED; www.anred.com/stats.html
Dana Perry interned for GSUSA during summer 2007. She previously worked as an Outreach Specialist for high-risk youth at Girl Scouts - Pacific Peaks Council in DuPont, Wash.
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