Articles of category "Eating Disorders (kids and teens)"

The term 'survival of the fittest' may have only applied to the animal kingdom or those involved in competitive sports; until now that is. Those diagnosed with eating disorders in American kids and teens age nine to nineteen are at all time highs. The percentages of approximately 17 to 67 percent of all teen girls and 9 to 42 percent of all teen boys who admit to opting for a form of binging or purging in order to loose weight are staggering. Where are our children getting the desire to strive for such an unhealthy lifestyle?

Having an eating disorder has become more common in our society as media focuses more strongly than ever on an ideal of thinness that is unnatural for most body types. Media cannot take all of the blame, however, as an eating disorder can be triggered by stress, social or athletic-based pressures, poor judgment and comments made by others, or by a teenager who is feeling out of control and is attempting to control at least one are of their life. An eating disorder is a serious problem that affects both body and mind and those who are suspected of having a problem should be given immediate assistance. It might save their life.