Twenty-First century Teen: August 2010

Without a doubt most teens go through a stage where they worry about there wieght. Sadly many think that they are fat, or they could lose a bit of wieght when they don't need to.

First I'd like to give you guys some facts about Eating Disorders - Fact in italics

• Anyone can develop an eating disorder, although most likely it will occur in young women aged 15 to 25.

Girls and women are 10 times more likely than boys and men to suffer from anorexia or bulimia4

• Eating disorders affect 1 fifteen-year-old girl in every 150 and 1 fifteen-year-old boy in

every 10004.

I think these facts are right.

Teens are under pressure to become what they think is the right look and have the right body. From the pages and pages of "Skiinny" girls in magazines, to the models on the catwalks, Hell, even clothes that are deemed fashionable have size limits on them !
From a teen point of view, I have gone through it but to be honest it wasn't due to this sort of advertisement. I think it was more in my head and myself than that. I had lost quite a bit of wieght due to being ill, and people began to notice this. Always complimenting me and saying I looked great. I loved getting then compliments but most of all I loved to here that I was Skinny or that people had noticed my wieght lose. I'd secretly smile inside. Then I began to feel that I was under more pressure, having lost over a stone due to illness, I began to worry what people would think if I put it all back on. My solution to that was just to keep losing it.
I was never deemed as having anorexia or something like that by the doctors and I think this is what is also happening to many teens ! I remember everytime I eat I felt guilty about what I eat and then I would immediantly go to my room and do 50 sit-ups, hoping to get that bloated feeling away.
There are teens out there who are going through this but are not getting help because they are not thin enough I think.
Now, a couple of months on I still suffer from these thought but I am eating a lot better but I still have these days where I would feel bloated, I then go and secretly write on a piece of paper things that I had to avoid the next day and what to eat. I used to write something so little in propation to all my other sisters and brothers. Then once that day was over I'd wiegh myself and instantly feel better cause the number on the scales went down a lb or two.
Arguements were more common as well. My parents naging at me to eat. Always asking me questions such as "Do you have a problem with food ? Do you have a disorder ? " and I would answer no ! I was scared of them to find out thinking that they'd either drag me to the doctors or made sure I eat. Either way I looked at it I would have to gain wieght which was something I did not want to do.
But I was wrong.I told my mum,and she understood. She stopped nagging at me to eat and gave me smaller portions at dinner but made sure I eat enough to get my wieght to a healthy size, my wieght is now up to just over the average line and I feel I am beginging t ogain more confidence in myself.

The tell tale signs of an eating disorder are -

People with anorexia nervosa avoid eating and lose a lot of weight. They are usually at least 15% below their recommended body weight for their height, and often feel fat, even when they are very thin.

• People with anorexia nervosa have an extreme fear of gaining weight: they feel fat, even when they have lost so much weight that it becomes obvious to others.

• They may starve themselves by only eating tiny quantities of food.

• They can become so preoccupied with their weight and shape, and so distorted in their thinking about food, that it is very difficult for them to accept the need to eat a proper diet.

• They remain fascinated with food and often enjoy cooking for others.

• They often hide food and follow very complicated plans to avoid food and appear heavier than they really are.

• Sometimes they may pretend to have eaten when they have not.

• They may exercise vigorously, use laxatives or make themselves sick in order to lose more weight.

• A girl's periods may stop or never even start.

People with bulimia nervosa eat large amounts of food in 'binges' and then make themselves sick, or take laxatives to get rid of the food (purge).

• They may not look overweight or underweight, and because of this their eating problems are often difficult to detect. In fact, they can have great difficulty in controlling their eating - sometimes strictly dieting, at other times giving way to periods of bingeing.

• The food people eat in a binge is often high in calories, fat, or carbohydrate. As a person begins to fill full, feelings of shame and guilt can overwhelm them. It is those feelings that can trigger the need to purge.

• Continuous bingeing and vomiting can do serious harm to the body. Frequent weight changes can lead to loss of energy, mood changes and loss of interest in sex. Being sick regularly can result in dehydration, bad breath and serious damage to teeth. Regular use of laxatives can lead to severe bowel disease. Serious imbalances in any of the body’s essential minerals can result in organ failure and even death..

Also I'd like to say what brought me to write this was today I saw a programme GMTV and it had a young girl who had fought and won against Anorexia, which is amazing but then the show advertiesed there help site with a skinny girl who was deemed to be average. NOT HELPFUL.....

Thanks to Seemescotland which is where I got all the info from.

IF YOU OUR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS SUFFERING FROM THIS THEN PLEASE GET HELP OR VISIT THIS SITE.

YOUR BEAUTIFUL, YOUR AMAZING,

Twenty-First century Teen

Tuesday, 10 August 2010

Eating Disorders......

Start of something new, literally.