The NY Times posed an interesting question this week:
In writing about eating disorders, are authors, unwittingly, creating an alluring guidebook to the disease?
A How-To Book for Teen Anorexics?
Does the new Young Adult novel Wintergirls TEACH girls to have anorexia?
Case in point: Wintergirls, a new Young Adult novel by Laurie Halse Anderson. It's about a teen anorexic. Will girls who read these books use it as a primer?
Psychologist Dr. Lisa Boesky says, "It is rare for girls who are not at risk for eating disorders to read a book such as Wintergirls and suddenly develop one. However, for girls who already suffer from an eating disorder or who are on the edge of one, these types of books can trigger a variety of negative emotions and behaviors, and sometimes even provide inspiration or helpful hints toward remaining thin."
Dr. Lisa continues, "If teens are reading these types of books, their parents should be involved and there should be continual conversation about the story."
Girls are so body conscious so young...
Do you think Young Adult books can encourage girls to develop anorexia?
Did you ever have or do you know anyone who has had an eating disorder?
What are your thoughts?
How do you know if your daughter is suffering from an eating disorder?
"Today we are seeing a really broad range of eating-disordered behavior, including extreme dieting, over-exercise, and skipping meals. While not all teens reach the point of having an anorexia or bulimia diagnosis, millions of them do fall into those gray areas," says Claire Mysko.
We spoke with Dr. David B. Herzog, Roseanne Tobey, L.P.C., and Claire Mysko, for important warning signs that parents can look for in teens who may be suffering from bulimia or anorexia.
5 Top Signs of Anorexia or Bulimia:
1. Extreme food restriction: The teen has a drastic change in her eating habits. For instance, she is only willing to accept really small portions and then pushes them around the plate instead of eating them.
2. Perceives her body or parts of her body as extremely large when that is not the case: This may result in a change in clothing style -- a daughter who has lost a lot of weight and is now wearing baggy clothing.
3. Disappearance of food from refrigerator or pantry: Bingers usually binge in secret, so keep an eye out for pantries or fridges that have been emptied of their contents, as well as large amounts of empty food wrappers, either in the garbage or stashed in some out of the way place.
4. Excessive, compulsive exercise: An obsession with exercising -- for instance, several times a day, or to the point of complete exhaustion.
5. Extreme weight loss or marked fluctuations in weight: Dramatic weight loss can be a sign of anorexia, but it is important to remember that not all eating disorders result in weight loss. Many bulimics are normal weight and they can even be overweight. That doesn't make their eating-disordered behavior any less dangerous. Watch out for frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, and excessive exercise (specifically, increased discussion about needing to burn off calories). If you find any evidence that your child has been abusing laxatives or diet pills, confront her immediately.
The earlier a patient is diagnosed and treated with an eating disorder, the more likely it is that they will recover completely. However, according to Walden, one of the country's leading hospitals for treating eating disorders, prolonged bouts with bulimia and anorexia that go untreated can result in osteoporosis, retarded growth, kidney problems, ulcers, and heart failure, and even death.
For more information about teens and eating disorders, visit the Harris Center for Eating Disorders or Walden Behavioral Care.
No. My belief is that the biggest influence on this is what people around them say. It is teen society that causes the issues, if not for the over emphasis on teen weight and the ridicule to those who are not model perfect, then the issue of perceived perfection would not hit home for so many teens.
My struggles with eating disorders started when I was around 15. One has to understand that my family was full of obese people, including my 300 pound mother, and I witnessed first hand the way they were made fun of and I vowed to NEVER be fat.
When I was in 10th grade, I weighed 95lbs (I'm 5'2) and on the first day of 10th grade, someone looked at me and said "looks like you gained a little weight!" That's all it took to crush me and make me a slave to Anorexia and Bulimia- because one person said I looked fatter.
During the rest of 10th and 11th grade, I starved myself and threw up when I did manage to choke something down. I got down to about 85 lbs and as you can imagine, didn't look to healthy to others, although to myself, I still looked fat and disgusting.
I've had to struggle with this through three pregnancies ( I did NOT binge and purge during those times) and although I haven't made myself throw up in like 10 years, I have gone on starvation diets- the most recent being only last year.
I sometimes wonder if that person would have never said that to me back in 10th grade, if I never would have had to go through the hell I did. It only takes someone to plant that tiny seed into a girl's mind and if given the right amount of peer pressure to look thin and the exact amount of low self esteem, it will grow into a monster than will soon be out of control.
I have ALWAYS seen my body different than what it actually looks like. My family eats very healthy and we do have one family member that would always and still does watch what EVERYONE eats. If she thinks you shouldn't be eating a piece of cake during a bday party she will let you know instantly and ask you " should you be eating that" .. She says she says these things to help. But as a teen her always saying those things would upset me. She had said to me one time, " you know, if you only lost like 10 more pounds you would look good, boys like girls who are in shape." I was 14. My bulemia started around 17-18 yrs old. On and off. I never would do extreme binging and purging. It didn't matter what or how much I ate, I would throw it up rite after. And yes, the question about the book. I would always look at magazines or read about someone who had bulemia or anxorexia and take pointers from that. Even the movies. I would think okay, how can I be quiet when throwing up like this girl. I got pregnant and never did it during that time. But I still struggle with it sometimes. I wil get overwhelmed or really upset at something and I want to just throw up. But I don't. I've learned to deal with my problems in a healthy way.
Wow I guess I never thought about it coming from that. I still think it has to do with what there friends say. Peer pressure.
I think there is way too much pressure on teens / young adults as it is. With most models looking almost perfect, pictures in magazines, on billboards must put some sort of pressure on them.
Then there is peer pressure, its hip to be thin (nothing wrong with being thin as long as its a healthy weight), and I believe kids nowadays can be mean as a result they bully/cyber bully other kids for not fitting in, for being overweight, etc, etc.
I also believe that as a parent you shoud teach your child to make healthy choices, get them involved in putting menus together for the week and shopping for them, even preparing them together. You should also lead by example. If mom and dad skip meals, or you don't have meals together as a family, if you drink sodas and junk food, it sends a negative message.
It's a combination that builds up and ends up pressuring girls go take drastic measures, which I think with education and leading by example and keeping your communication open with your child, can be prevented, JMO.
I think this is a serious issue. I also think that the people around teens that are important in their lives including family and friends can also contribute to anorexia in teens. But please I would like to point out to everyone and issue related in a way to this one that I almost never see pointed out. Did you all know that if you are very thin you also put up with the ridicule just as the larger person is? Yes I know this first hand. I until I reached the age of 40 at 5'6 wore a size 0-1 and that also ran in my family. I know that someone picking on a person for their size is one of the most hurtful things that anyone can do to another. I was so lucky to have had a supportive family and friends because I could not gain weight no matter what and could not even starve myself to change that even having children did not change that for me only age. I have many good and great friends that have suffered the opposite and it just kills me to see the pain they have gone through. And I must say that TV and magazines also do nothing to help that self image they have of themselves. I have my 5 year old granddaughter living with me and she came back one day from being with her mother and her family and announced to me that she well no longer be eating most things because she is too fat and she has to make that go away! Now after two months I finally ( hopefully ) have her convinced that she is just fine the way she is! We are talking about a 5 year old here already thinking they are too fat. She is not fat she is a large girl yes and a solid girl its her genetics. Me I keep telling her that everyone is not the same and how boring would the world be if everyone and everything was the same? It seems to be working now but she is still young. I do think tho that a loving family and friends can make a world of difference and go along way to discouraging anorexia in teens.
I don't believe that it is encouraged by society at all.
There may be pocket groups of girls that encourage it in each other...but not as a whole.
I was a thicker girl...still view myself as one..and I'm 5'6 155lbs and a size 12 (or a 10 in a dress).
I TRIED to be anorexic then bulimic. I simply couldn't do either. Each attempt would last maybe a day.
Then I got very hungry and got over it. I think that some kids have a predisposition to develop these disorders.
The comment on "perfect-looking models" made me want to share this video...
Not even the MODELS look as good as the images we are fed every day.
Imagine there's no Heaven/ It's easy if you try/ No hell below us / Above us only sky / Imagine all the people/ Living for today
Imagine there's no countries/ It isn't hard to do/ Nothing to kill or die for/ And no religion too / Imagine all the people/ Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer / But I'm not the only one/ I hope someday you'll join us/ And the world will be as one
Eight Year Old Girl Given "Catastrophe Award" By Teacher
- Cafe GroupAdmin
on Jun. 8, 2009 at 12:00 AM