By Lee Ann Turner

/ In each of the videos depicted, one or more of the following were present: Lies/deceit Revealing/tight clothing Sexual references References to dieting The popular girls are beautiful, thin, and athletic The popular guys are athletic and good looking Bring It On A Cinderella StoryMean Girls She’s All That Confessions of A Teenage Drama Queen

What do these movies and images portray to teens? Thin is in Must be thin to be beautiful Must be beautiful to be popular “The marketing of the female body and the socio-cultural pressure to be thin often are held accountable for more and more women acquiring symptoms of depressive mood and anxiety, social withdrawal, self-invalidation, distorted body image judgments, and the development of severe eating pathologies.” ~Maryna Vaschenko, Eating Disorders In Adolescent Girls: What Educators Should Know

These images lead teens to extreme measures to become accepted Eating disorders Anorexia Bulimia Muscle dysmorphia (“reverse anorexia”) Obsessive preoccupation with body size and muscularity Compulsive exercise

Facts Of the cases of Anorexia, more than 90% are female, typically ages (Maryna Vaschenko). In a small number of cases, the damage caused by Anorexia may lead to death (Maryna Vaschenko).

Warning Signs of Anorexia Unnatural or obsessive preoccupation with food, dieting, and weight Distorted body image & intense fear of gaining weight Avoidance of social situations with food Lack of energy, weakness, fatigue, and depression Decreased coordination Inability to concentrate Long visits to the bathroom after eating Secretive eating Hidden stashes of food, particularly high calorie foods such as candy, chips, etc. Use of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics, emetics Bloodshot eyes (from vomiting) Warning Signs of Bulimia

Results of Anorexia

Results of Bulimia

What Educators Should Do Become aware of the teens’ social and academic world (key for preventative strategies in school settings) Be aware of potential risks and be informed about the behaviors, signs, symptoms, health consequences, and preventative strategies