Teen Eating Disorders
Eating disorders have long been a serious problem among people
of all ages. However, this disease usually begins somewhere in
the pre-teen stages of life, and although many adolescent boys
suffer with this disorder, it usually affects and is much more
severe in young girls.
People who do suffer from an eating disorder like to place
blame on factors such as television and family life-styles.
Although these situations do influence eating disorders, the
basis for this disease lies within the person whom it is
affecting.
Most girls and boys who suffer from an eating disorder usually
are unhappy with themselves and their own performance in life.
With girls, eating disorders may arise if they do not succeed
in activities such as cheerleading or gymnastics, or if they do
not seem to attract the attention of boys. Many girls believe
that they cannot be beautiful unless they are thin, sometimes
due to naturally thin girls that surround them both in real
life and in fashion. For boys, causes may also result from
sports that are weight orientated like wrestling.
There are two types of eating disorders called anorexia
nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. The person who is anorexic will
place herself on what she considers to be a “strict diet.” This
diet usually involves cutting down calorie intake to an absurd
level. The average person should consume around 1500 calories a
day. An anorexic person will gauge her daily intake anywhere
between a few hundred to less than 100 calories.
The bulimic person will usually try to restrict her diet.
However, if she feels that she has eaten too much, she will
induce vomiting or over-consume laxatives. Frequently, this
sets off a pattern of binge eating and purging.
What Parents can do
There is a way of preventing your teenager being susceptible to
these diseases. Allow your teenager to be on a diet, but monitor
the diet plan with her.
If you notice that your teenager is concerned with his weight,
do not brush it off as a phase. Instead, sit down with him and
work out a dietary and exercise plan together. Help by
purchasing healthy foods such as fruit, raw vegetables and
salads. Show your teenager that it is OK to eat - it is just
the types of foods he consumes that he must be careful about.
Understand that this is a mental disease, and grounding or
punishing your teenager for having these disorders will only
make things worse. If you believe your child may be suffering
from an eating disorder seek professional help immediately. As
the parent in situations like these, you may feel undermined or
helpless, but understand that this disease greatly affects your
teenager’s health and must be dealt with as soon as possible.
About The Author: Christina is a member of the National Writers
Association, is listed on Cambridge Who’s Who and is a proud
member of the National PTA, offering support to that
organization and other non-profit groups by offering her book
to use in fundraising campaigns.
http://www.helpwithteenagers.com/parentinghandbook.html
http://www.helpwithteenagers.com
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