(MTYN) Adolescents and Eating Disorders Lesson

Adolescents and Eating Disorders Lesson 

Because of the physiological changes in adolescence, some teens may begin to feel uncomfortable about their bodies. Some teens may choose a healthy way to change their bodies like diet and exercise. Others may choose more unhealthy methods such as binging and purging, overeating or even starvation. These methods can have deadly consequences. Please review the material on Anorexia Nervosa (eating disorder in which an individual starves oneself to be thin) and Bulimia Nervosa (eating disorder in which an individual binges and purges to lose weight) that was featured in Part A of the course. A review has been provided in the More Resources sidebar.

Many eating disorders start early. Studies suggest that around 2 in every 100 teens develop an eating disorder. If not an eating disorder, many teens begin to have problems associated with weight, eating or body image. Many of these problems develop around ages 13- 17.   Adolescence is a time of emotional and physical changes, academic pressures, and a greater degree of peer pressure. In 2003, Teen magazine reported that 35 percent of girls, 6 to 12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50 to 70 percent of normal weight girls believe they are overweight. Overall, research indicates that 90% of women are dissatisfied with their appearance in some way.

 

Sports and Eating Disorders

Female and male athletes can feel immense pressure to perform well and look the part. Sometimes, this can be taken to the extreme, resulting in unhealthy eating behaviors. Unhealthy eating behaviors and over-exercising can lead to a dangerous condition called 'the athlete triad.'   The female athlete triad is a combination of three conditions: disordered eating, amenorrea (loss of menstrual cycle), and osteoporosis. A female athlete can have one, two, or all three parts of the triad. This can be very dangerous. After the loss of the menstrual cycle, a woman can lose bone mass and become more susceptible to injury and fractures. A female athlete may feel pressure from coaches, parents, and teammates to maintain a certain weight so that he/she can perform at a peak level. This is common in wrestling, gymnastics, track and field, dancing, and other competitive sports. The athlete may closely watch his or her calories so that he or she will not gain weight. This is also common in sports where the body is exposed because of small uniforms or outfits.   It is estimated that up to 62% of females who participate in 'appearance sports' such as gymnastics, figure skating, dancing, and diving suffer from an active eating disorder like Anorexia, Bulimia or Compulsive Overeating.

Another factor that can affect athletes is a compulsive habit of over-exercising. Those who exercise in excess are called 'compulsive exercisers' or are said to have 'anorexia athletica.' The athletes purposefully choose to over-exercise so that they can burn up the calories that they consumed earlier in the day. The Dietary Guidelines recommend that teens participate in 60 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Only about 30% of American teens actually reach this goal. However, some far surpass it. They try to burn off a portion or all of the calories they take in by exercising.

 

Signs of Over-Exercising

• Rigidity about workouts; won't skip a session even if ill or injured
• Appears irritable or anxious if an exercise session is missed
• Seems to take little pleasure in exercise; sees it as a means to lose weight
• Obsessive interest in exercise, calories burned, or weight
• Makes up exercise sessions if missed or exercises more if concerned about calorie intake
• Significant weight loss
• Skips social activities and even responsibilities in order to exercise

 

Long periods of over-exercising can be very dangerous. Here are some short-term and long-term effects of over-exercising.

• Damage to tendons, ligaments, bones and joints
• Chronic fatigue or exhaustion
• Destruction of muscle mass, especially if nutritional intake is inadequate
• Hormonal changes, resulting in loss of periods for girls and potential for premature bone loss
• Stress to the heart, especially if nutritional intake is inadequate

 

The Media's Influence on Weight

 

Unfortunately, the media plays a large role in the way young women and men view themselves and the way they should look. Many of the women portrayed in ads are well below the average size. In America, the average teen weighs about 130 pounds. That average is taken from all girls ages 12-17. It is indeed an average. Some may weigh more and some may weigh less. However, models tend to weigh on average 23% less than the average teen.

Many women end up comparing themselves to media images because that is what is suggested everyday in television and magazine ads. Being 23% less than the average 130 pounds means that most female models weigh around 100 lbs. Regrettably, many actresses and famous people are even made fun of in gossip magazines and columns when their weight increases, even by 5 lbs. They are scrutinized in bathing suits and skimpy clothing. Young teens model themselves after the unrealistic portrayal of the models in the media, and may become depressed as a result.

 

Over -eating or Binge Eating

Binge eating is a very serious disease and has an impact on both physical and mental health. Binge eaters have episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing followed by periods of guilt and depression. They may continue to eat even after they are full.

Left untreated, binge eating can lead to severe medical problems including high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. This binge eating episode can last for a couple of hours or even off and on all day long.

Some sign of this disorder are listed below:

• Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry
• Eating much more rapidly than normal
• Eating until the point of feeling uncomfortably full
• Eating alone or in secret because of shame or embarrassment
• Feelings of depression, disgust, or guilt after eating
• A history of marked weight fluctuations

Why do people do this? In adolescence, teens have a more difficult time handling their emotions and stress. Instead of handling the stress and emotions in a healthy way like exercising, writing, or meditating, they turn to food to make them feel better. But, doing this on a regular basis becomes a habit and one that can be unhealthy.

Over time, this can lead to serious health complications. Listed below are just a few of the long-term consequences of over-eating/binge eating.

• Type 2 diabetes
• Gallbladder disease
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease   
• Certain types of cancer
• Osteoarthritis
• Joint and muscle pain
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Sleep apnea

 

How to Get Help

To begin the healing process, the adolescent must first acknowledge that he or she has a problem and must be ready to seek or accept help. The first step is to ask for help from family and friends and a professional. Second, find a professional to help treat the problem. This involves a counselor, nutritionist and other doctors that might help. Third, face the problem and understand these behaviors must be stopped. Last, make a plan for long-term success. This involves education, therapy, counseling, and family support. An eating disorder is not easy to treat. Many people will suffer from the effects of a disorder for years.

Many times the victim must learn to build confidence and trust within themselves. Often the disorder stems from low self-esteem, poor body image, and control issues. To successfully overcome a disorder, the adolescent must focus on the positive things with their figure. They must learn to accept that they cannot be perfect. Genetics play a large role in the shape of the body, so the best course of action is to make yourself as healthy as possible and be realistic with your goals. Staying active is important to feeling good about yourself and clearing your mind.

 

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