In this article, TWEENS STARVING FOR PERFECTION, mentioned that there has been a rising trend pre-teens as young as eight diagnosed anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight, often coupled with a distorted self image which may be maintained by various cognitive biases that alter how the affected individual evaluates and thinks about her or his body, food and eating. Persons with anorexia nervosa continue to feel hunger, but deny themselves all but very small quantities of food.
In my perspective looking at teenagers and children nowadays, they will spend on clothings and accessories to dress up themselves to make them look good including male and females. Especially the girls will love to doll themselves up and look good when they are out for shopping. In the article, it mentioned that mostly anorexia nervosa patient stand are girls. In my opinion, I feel that girls are much more sensitive to remarks like they are said to be chubby etc. This could lead to the reason why girls stand the majority to diagnose anorexia nervosa.
A female friend of mine, she skipped her lunch and dinner to lose weights. I told her there are other alternative to lose weight than skipping meals. She told me that skipping of meals is the fastest way to lose weight and in the least amount of time to lose to her satisfied weight. Is it because of beauty, you may have to lose your life? In my opinion, skipping meals are bad for health. Yes, you will lose weights but you are at your own risk to suffer from malnutrition. Your body will have lack of nutritions from food. I suggest is that you can eat less but more meals and could take up excersising to lose body mass. "A stone hits two bird", you can lose weights and you live a healthier life.
In the article, it also mentioned the rising trend in teenagers and children with anorexia nervosa has to do with the media idolising thin celebrities. I agree that media could affect the mind set of a growing up adults. Children as young as eight years old may not be matured enough as what they seen on TV they will learn from them. Celebrities are professional actors or singers. They have to look professional on camera, they may have hire dietician to watch their diet. Adolesceneces love to idolise their favourite celebrities and will like to look as good as them. However teenagers and children may not have adults or dietician under supervision on their diet. They will approach their "own ways" like skipping of meals, excerise excessively and on diet pills to lose weights. In the long run, they will suffer from eating disorders.
Parents, teachers and friends must learn how to spot those who need help, and reach out to them earlier. The following are effects of anorexia nervosa: Loss of menstrual periods or, in the case of pre-teens, delayed on-set of puberty, lacking of energy, weakness, feeling cold all the time, dry, yellowish skin, constipation and abdonminal pain, restlessness and insomnia, dizziness, fainting and headaches and growth of fine hair all over the body and face. Anorexia nervosa patient is require to undergo cognitive behavorial therapy with a psychologist as well as a nutritional counselling with a dietician. The patient's family will need to learn how to help a child modify him/her diet and exercise habits.
The media can also help to raise awareness of the importance of a healthy diet and body. Poster of "Say No to Eating Disorder!" can be placed in the public to keep teenagers or even the adults to think twice before acting to lose weights unhealthly.
An example of Anorexia awareness on media:
FROM:
HO CHEE HOW
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