Eating Disorders in
Teenage Girls
Why individuals resort to
eating disorders?
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A lot of people usually think that girls become anorexic because
they are self-absorbed individuals, who place too much
importance on their looks. The culture in which we live in today
places a huge emphasis on thinness. Even though this is a big
factor in why girls would tend to become anorexic it is not the
sole factor. There is no sole factor. There are many factors
such as; social, family, psychological, and cultural. Most times
girls become anorexic because there perfectionists at everything
they do and want to have control over one thing in there life.
Food and weight can be controlled by an individual while other
aspects in their life cannot.
Body Image
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Is how an individual
sees themselves
when they look in the
mirror or picture
themselves in their
minds.
Aspects of Negative Body
Image
 - A distorted perception of your shape, you perceive
parts of your body unlike they really are.
 - You are convinced that only other people are attractive
and that your body size or shape is a sign of personal
failure.
 - You feel ashamed, self-conscious, and anxious about
your body.
 -You feel uncomfortable and awkward in your body.
Symptoms of Anorexia
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has lost a great deal of weight in a short period of time
continues to diet, although bone-thin.
reaches diet goal and immediately sets another goal for further weight loss
remains dissatisfied with appearance, claiming to feel fat, even after reaching
weight-loss goal
prefers dieting in isolation to joining a diet group
loses monthly menstrual periods
develops an unusual interest in food
develops strange eating rituals and eats small amounts of food, e.g., cuts food
into tiny pieces or measures everything before eating into extremely small
amounts
becomes a secret eater
becomes obsessive about exercising
appears depressed much of the time
begins to binge and purge
Symptoms of Bulimia
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binges regularly (eats large amounts of food over a short period
of time) and purges regularly (forces vomiting and/or uses drugs
to stimulate vomiting, bowel movements or urination)
diets and exercises often, but maintains or regains weight
becomes a secret eater
eats enormous amounts of food at one sitting, but does not gain
weight
disappears into the bathroom for long periods of time to induce
vomiting
abuses drugs or alcohol, or steals regularly
appears depressed much of the time
has swollen neck glands
has scars on the back of hands from forced vomiting
Statistics
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90% of those who have eating disorders are women between the
ages of 12 and 25
In a study of girls aged 9 to 15, slightly more than half reported
exercising to lose weight, slightly less than half reported eating less
to lose weight, and approximately 1 out of 20 reported using diet
pills or laxatives to lose weight
Bulimia affects 1 to 3 percent of middle and high school girls.
Pictures
Conclusion
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One important thing to remember is eating
disorders are not like any other disorders in
today’s world. There is not one set individual
that can be diagnosed with an eating disorder.
We are all at risk.
There are many ways to get treatment. There is
getting treatment in the hospital, psychological
treatment, and group meetings (where you meet
with others that have the same problem)