Society+Models=Eating Disorders
By Sara Jamison
Fitting in at school is always a huge concern while we're teenagers. But sometimes that small concern can become a serious matter. Many teenagers have a distorted image of what the perfect body is. And some try to achieve that body only to harm themselves in the end.
What I'm talking about is eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are two major problems in the United States. We all strive to be perfect, but we should know that sometimes that will just never happen.
Anorexia is a very dangerous problem, and it all starts in the head. It's all a psychological trick. But if your mother had it when she was younger, would the "anorexia gene" be passed to you? Yes and no.
According to Joanne Larsen, a dietitian with her own web site (www.dietitian.com), "it has not been proven that eating disorders can be spread genetically. However, one could not rule out the possibility of eating disorders spreading because of similar family/lifestyle issues." So if your mother constantly strives to be thin, perhaps you could do that same, yet to a different extent.
So how can you tell if someone is anorexic? There are some really big things that could clue you into this. Many anorexics (the majority being women) claim they are fat and obese though to anyone else they are extremely skinny. Other signs are not eating in front of others, exercising A LOT, always complaining about their weight, and constantly being sick.
Bulimia is another growing problem. Its symptoms are similar to anorexia, yet a bulimic will binge and then purge - in other words, eat a ton and then force themselves to throw it up. Not a pretty sight. Bulimics feel guilty about what they eat, so they decide to get rid of it the fastest way they can, by vomiting.
These diseases are very serious. There are many web sites you can visit to get more information about these eating disorders. They are listed at the bottom of this article.
If you or somebody you know is going through this problem, please get professional help. These diseases can get worse and worse, whether the person thinks so or not.
About the Author:
Sara Jamison may be contacted by email at sarajamison@hotmail.com.
Article courtesy of www.suite101.com.
