The Facts
- 95 percent of people with eating disorders are between 12 and 25 years of age
- Of girls that are between 11 and 13 years of age, 50 percent see themselves as fat
- 80 percent of 13 year olds have tried to lose weight
- Of chronic illnesses in adolescent females, anorexia is the third most common
- Anorexic teens commonly think that by eating less and getting thinner, they are benefitting themselves
- About 1 or 2 of every 100 teens will struggle with anorexia at some point in their life
- 90 percent of those that struggle with an eating disorder are female
- 5 in every 100 girls are suffering from anorexia currently
- Teen anorexia affects all social classes
- About 1.000 women die every year from anorexia
- Between 5 and 20 percent of teens with anorexia will die from reasons related to their eating disorder
I never realized how common anorexia is or how dangerous it can be. After reading these statistics I knew that it was a topic that needed to be educated to more people. I have gone through the same ideas of seeing myself as fat and limiting the amount of food I eat each day like many other teens. I have learned how unhealthy this is and want to share more about the dangers of anorexia, what to do if you know someone with anorexia, and where you can get help if you are suffering from anorexia.
What many people don't realize is that anorexia is not a lifestyle choice, it is a mental disorder that can be very dangerous to a person's health if left untreated. If you know someone who is suffering from anorexia, let their parent or another adult know about their problem and inform them on the dangers of untreated anorexia. If you are an adult that wants to help, you can refer the teen to a physician or eating disorder specialist. I can't stress enough how important it is to get professional help for anorexia. The consequences of going without treatment could be fatal.
Although there is no known cause of anorexia, there are factors that can put teens at a higher risk of developing the disorder:
1. Societal pressure: many teens feel pressure from the media, peers, and Western culture in general that being thin is beautiful. Even teens that are at a normal body weight can start to view themselves as overweight and can eventually become obsessed with being thin.
2. Low self-esteem: some teens use their eating disorder as a way to feel in control.
3. Activites: things like ballet, wrestling, running, and other activities value a leanness. This can cause a teen to feel pressured to lose weight and in a fast, unhealthy way which increases the risk of developing an eating disorder like anorexia.
4. Personal factors: Both gentic and biological factors can increase the risk of developing anorexia or other eating disorders. Some personality traits like perfectionism and anxiety can play a role.
For more information visit:
http://www.troubledteen101.com/articles40.html
http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Teenagers+With+Eating+Disorders§ion=Facts+for+Families
http://www.anorexia-reflections.com/anorexia-in-teens.html#axzz2SkbL0USb
http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site3172/mainpageS3172P1.html
For help and support visit:
http://www.anad.org/eating-disorders-get-help/support-groups/
http://www.feast-ed.org/
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
What many people don't realize is that anorexia is not a lifestyle choice, it is a mental disorder that can be very dangerous to a person's health if left untreated. If you know someone who is suffering from anorexia, let their parent or another adult know about their problem and inform them on the dangers of untreated anorexia. If you are an adult that wants to help, you can refer the teen to a physician or eating disorder specialist. I can't stress enough how important it is to get professional help for anorexia. The consequences of going without treatment could be fatal.
Although there is no known cause of anorexia, there are factors that can put teens at a higher risk of developing the disorder:
1. Societal pressure: many teens feel pressure from the media, peers, and Western culture in general that being thin is beautiful. Even teens that are at a normal body weight can start to view themselves as overweight and can eventually become obsessed with being thin.
2. Low self-esteem: some teens use their eating disorder as a way to feel in control.
3. Activites: things like ballet, wrestling, running, and other activities value a leanness. This can cause a teen to feel pressured to lose weight and in a fast, unhealthy way which increases the risk of developing an eating disorder like anorexia.
4. Personal factors: Both gentic and biological factors can increase the risk of developing anorexia or other eating disorders. Some personality traits like perfectionism and anxiety can play a role.
For more information visit:
http://www.troubledteen101.com/articles40.html
http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Teenagers+With+Eating+Disorders§ion=Facts+for+Families
http://www.anorexia-reflections.com/anorexia-in-teens.html#axzz2SkbL0USb
http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site3172/mainpageS3172P1.html
For help and support visit:
http://www.anad.org/eating-disorders-get-help/support-groups/
http://www.feast-ed.org/
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/