Eating Disorders Mr. Carr Health Class

What is an Eating Disorder? Eating Disorder: any various psychological disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, or binge eating, that involves insufficient or excessive food intake –Anorexia Nervosa: an abnormal fear of being fat that makes people, especially girls and young women, starve themselves

What is an Eating Disorder? (cont’d) –Bulimia: also called binge-purge syndrome; an eating disorder in which a person eats excessive amounts of food and then vomits in order not to gain weight –Binge Eating: a recurrent eating disorder characterized by the uncontrolled, excessive intake of any available food and often occurring following stressful events

Jessica’s Story: Part I Jessica is one of the smartest kids in the sixth grade. When she’s not studying, she’s kicking butt on the basketball court or coming up with cool ideas at student council meetings. She totally loses it if she gets less than an A on a test, and all of her friends are convinced that she’ll be the first woman President. One day at a family reunion, one of Jessica’s aunts grabs her cheeks and says something about “baby fat”. Jessica knows her aunt is just teasing, but that comment sticks with her. She decides to go on a diet. At first she cuts back on sweats and starts using her dad’s treadmill after school. The pounds start coming off and people notice. They ask her if she’s on a diet and sometimes tell her that she looks great! Pretty soon, Jessica is weighing herself every morning and every night. She eats less and less, records every calorie and fat gram in her diet journal, and even hangs pictures of models on her wall for inspiration.

Jessica’s Story: Part II But Jessica is also starting to feel annoyed and grouchy all the time. She turns down party invitations because she doesn’t want to be tempted by fatty snack food. She snaps at her pals when they ask her what’s wrong. She feels dizzy and cold and she can’t concentrate on anything but her diet and exercise. Even though the numbers say she’s losing weight, Jessica doesn’t see it when she looks in the mirror. All she can see is baby fat. Jessica has anorexia nervosa, usually just called “anorexia”. People with anorexia starve themselves. Jessica’s eating disorder really isn’t about food at all. There are lots of other feelings and behaviors at the heart of this illness. Jessica tries hard to be the best at everything. She doesn’t know how to handle criticism or teasing. Her aunt probably had no idea that her comment made Jessica feel like a big failure. Instead of confronting her aunt or talking to her parents about the situation, Jessica takes it all on herself. She thinks that a diet is a way to take control of the situation, but before long the situation has taken control of her.

How Jessica’s Disorder is Effecting Her Whole Body

Symptoms of Eating Disorders Anorexia - Weight loss - Weighing 15% or more below normal weight - Anxious at mealtime - Fatigue - Depression - Irregular heart rate - Brittle hair and nails - Baby-fine hair covering body - Low blood pressure - Mild anemia Bulimia -Recurrent episodes of binge eating - Self-induced vomiting, use of laxative, diet pills, excessive exercise - Dehydration - Fatigue - Depression - Constipation - Damaged teeth and gums - Swollen cheeks - Irregular heartbeat Binge Eating -Recurrent episodes of compulsive overeating - No control over eating behavior - Feelings of shame or guilt - Fatigue - Joint Pain - Gallbladder disease - Increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels

Activity The media often delivers the message that being beautiful and thin is the solution to all problems. Many of today’s teens are influenced by this and attempt to emulate what they see. For instance, Jessica hung pictures of models on her wall for inspiration. However, most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women (Smolak, 1996). In small groups you will create a poster showing the media’s fixation on being thin and the misperception of body image using magazines popular among teens. On your poster your group should include statistics about eating disorders.

Statistics 1 out of every 100 young women between 10 and 20 starve themselves, sometimes to death 42% of 1 st -3 rd grade girls want to be thinner 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat 80% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance 10% of people with anorexia and bulimia are male About 50% of people with anorexia become bulimic Anorexia and bulimia affect primarily people in their teens and twenties, but have been reported in children as young as 6 and adults as old as 76 The average American woman is 5’4” tall and weighs 140 lbs The average American model is 5’11” tall and weighs 117 lbs The average American woman’s dress size is Barbie’s dress size is a 4. A store mannequin’s dress size is a 6. Athletes in certain sports are particularly high risk for eating disorders (gymnasts, ice skaters, dancers, swimmers, wrestlers, body builders, runners, rowers, cyclists, and football players).

Closure Group presentations of posters –Posters will be displayed in the hallways Homework: complete worksheet on health consequences related to eating disorders –Students may use the Internet as a resource to help answer homework questions

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